MARGAO
Tension and uproar marked the public hearing of the Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs) at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, on Sunday as the people stopped the government from bulldozing its way with the controversial plans.
In no uncertain terms, villagers, who had gathered in large numbers, demanded in one voice hearing on the controversial plans at the village level.
While tension rent the air outside as thousands of anxious villagers inhabiting South Goa coastal belt tried to force their way into the Ravindra Bhavan, only to be stopped at the entrance gate by police personnel who were mobilized in strength, the 100-odd speakers and participants did the talking inside the auditorium, vehemently objecting and stalling the hearing inside.
They refused to speak on the plan, protesting over the restrictions, as they demanded entry to the thousands of people waiting outside inside the Ravindra Bhavan auditorium. They said the hearing appeared more “private” than “public”.
In fact, agitated villagers came face to face with the police at the main entrance gate, demanding entry inside the venue. The district court building-Ravindra Bhavan road had to be closed for traffic in the morning session as surging crowds assembled outside the main gate, which spilled onto the road.
Inside the auditorium, the participants refused to air their views on the CZMPs during the five-minute slots, terming the exercise as a farce carried out by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and the Chennai-based National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM).
In fact, the scientist attached to the NCSCM, Dr Manik Mahapatra, was at the receiving end of the participants as he tried to explain the plan. The participants shouted him down and booed him for preparing the plan without taking the ground realities into account. Mahapatra’s repeated plea to hold the power presentation met with resistance.
Legislators from Salcete also joined the participants inside the hall, with NCP Benaulim MLA Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao being the first to take his seat, followed by Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, Vijai Sardesai and Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat.
They all demanded scrapping of the hearing and start the process afresh from the panchayat level. Both Churchill and Reginaldo, who spoke at least thrice, were seated in the auditorium, till the minutes were ready by the officials.
Left with hardly any options, South Goa District Collector, Surendra Naik, asked the officials to call out the names of the participants one by one to given them the opportunity to submit their suggestions, but in vain.
With the speakers and the participants steadfast in their resolve not to air their views, the District Collector said he would read out the proceedings of the hearing as mandated by the procedure.
District Collector Surendra Naik later told the media that the participants were of the view that all the people should be given the opportunity to be heard in the matter.
“The participants and the MLAs also said all the people should be given the opportunity to be heard. They also demanded that the hearing be conducted at the taluka and village level. Since the participants were not ready to speak, the proceedings were concluded by reading the minutes,” Naik said.
