the goan I network
MAPUSA
After facing a hostile environment in several talukas, Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral and department officials held a by and large healthy interaction with the people gathered for the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) presentation in Bardez on Saturday. However, while there were no black flags or placards, most people rejected the CZMP after the presentation and called for a full-proof plan made with the participation of local stakeholders.
“We do not want to be part of your presentation. We want a plan made by local panchayats, communidades, the fishing community and all the relevant stakeholders,” said Congress leader Amarnath Panjikar.
He said people in Goa were not upset with Cabral as a person but with the government which was trying to force the plan down their throats. “Goans are booing and saying chor, chor not for Cabral personally, but to the minister and the government of the day,” he said.
Around 200-odd people took part in the CZMP presentation held in the multi-purpose hall at Peddem Sports Complex, Mapusa.
None of the seven MLAs of Bardez were present for the presentation. The whole area was turned into a fortress and at one stage, the police personnel almost outnumbered the gathering in the hall.
Initially, OSD to environment department, Sanjiv Jogolekar began the presentation without the minister’s presence. Soon after he finished the presentation and started to take questions, people stopped him and demanded the presence of minister to answer queries. “Where is the minister? We have not come here to listen to your stories. We left our jobs and have come to ask questions to the minister,” said Moses Fernandes, almost setting the tempo for the evening.
Even after half an hour the minister failed to arrive, the crowd started getting restless and demanded from officials to confirm whether he was coming or not. Finally, when he arrived, the environment minister preferred to enter the hall through the side door.
Setting the ball rolling, Olaulim Communidade President Oldrin Pereira said the local panchayat had received only half the plan while the high tide line was shown passing above the mountains in the area.
A resident of Moira, Rui Da Gama, asked the minister to visit the villages instead of holding taluka-wise presentations. Cabral pointed out that the government has accepted that it was a wrong draft plan and the present exercise was being carried out to basically correct the mistakes in the plan.
“We want the panchayat to do the plan and send it to the department of environment. We will prepare a fresh plan and then send it back to you,” he said.
He said the plan will be scientifically prepared as per the demands of the people of Goa and sent to CRZ. “The CRZ will in turn send it to the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM),” he added.
When Roshan Mathias demanded that all plans/maps sent to panchayats be officially revoked, the environment minister said he had no qualms to do so. “On Monday I will write to the CRZ to call back all the maps/plans sent to panchayats in the State,” Cabral said.
He also assured the gathering to begin the process of preparing the draft plan as soon as the last presentation is held in Mormugao on August 8.
“Once the environment department prepares the plan, we will send it to every panchayat. We will also send it to mamlatdars and deputy collectors and ask them to display the plans at prominent places,” Cabral assured the gathering.
Anjuna Bio-Diversity Board, Chairman, Michael D’Souza raised relevant queries on the plan and later presented a copy of objections and suggestions complied by the bio-diversity board to the minister.
Camarkhazan Tenant Association Jhon Lobo, Congress Porvorim Block President Shankar Phadte, former Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira and others spoke at the interaction. The interaction with the minister lasted for more than 2 hours.
Govt creating awareness through presentation: Cabral
MAPUSA: Stating that the government was creating awareness amongst the people about the preparation of the coastal plan, Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral said the discussion in Bardez was good. “Finally, what people want should happen. If any panchayat needs any help from the environment department we will provide them the help,” Cabral said.
He said he would have liked if all other presentations ran the same way as it took place in Bardez. “The government carrying out the exercise has legal sanctity,” Cabral said.
