the goan I network
VASCO
Claiming that the old Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) did not highlight various important aspects of the village, several villagers on Thursday demanded the Cansaulim panchayat draft a new Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) after consulting
residents.
Speaking to reporters at the Cansaulim panchayat, Goenchya Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) General Secretary Olencio Simoes Olencio Simoes said they had requested the sarpanch to put up the CZMP for public scrutiny, as both areas of Cansaulim and Arrosim are fragile ecological hotspots.
“We have sand dunes, fishing village, landing sites, water bodies and low-lying areas. The old CZMP shows nothing except for a few sand dunes,” said Simoes.
“We have requested the sarpanch to invite the public for suggestions, take their views and bring an expert. We have stakeholders like farmers, fishermen, toddy tappers, etc who need to be taken into confidence before the new CZMP is formed because the new CZMP is like a bible for coastal villages and has to be formed in accordance with the law,” said Simoes.
“Once it is approved in the panchayat along with people, the new CZMP should be submitted to authorities.”
Another villager, Joseph Fernandes, said if a new CZMP is prepared in accordance with all villagers, there would be no scope of fear and there would also be awareness on CZMP issues. CZMP taken up in gram sabha, but no inputs from people: Sarpanch
VASCO: Refuting allegations that the CZMP was not available for public view, Cansaulim sarpanch Martha Saldanha said the draft CZMP was put up on display in the panchayat.
“A gram sabha was also convened and one point on the agenda was the CZMP, but the gram sabha had less attendance and people did not give any inputs,” justified Saldanha.
“We had made two announcements, the first one stating that the panchayat had received the plans and people could view it, while the second announcement was made with reminders in the church that the plan has come and people can visit the panchayat to view the plans. We have done our job,” said Saldanha
“We must first know what is the government’s view on CZMP because we were informed that authorities would visit every panchayat to create awareness and we could ask them about the issue and put forth our position. Till now, no one has come to the panchayat to create awareness on the CZMP but we have seen the plan,” said Saldanha.
The sarpanch claimed that if villagers disagreed with the plan, they have to submit their inputs to the panchayat.
“If they give me the inputs, we are always ready to support them. I have requested them for their inputs, but they are insisting that they will give their inputs only when government officials visit the panchayat to explain about CZMP,” said Saldanha.
“It does not work that way because the villagers have to first study the plans and submit their objections and suggestions to me, after which we can engage an expert to make a new plan accordingly.”
