MARGAO
Citizens for Democracy has demanded that the government put off the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) hearings scheduled for July 8 until September.
The social group questioned the motive of the Coastal Zone Management Authority for keeping the hearings under temporarily erected pandals during the peak monsoon period.
CFD member Sidharth Karapurkar wondered whether physical access to people would be possible in case of inclement weather. Karapurkar said that the government of Goa has itself come out with a circular for its personnel to avoid physical meetings. He pointed out that even the inauguration of the Maina-Curtorim police station was done virtually.
CFD leader Elvis Gomes said that public skepticism of the process of hearings was rising. He said that aided by the government, the CZMPs would be rushed through for approvals by bulldozing public sentiment. “This is part of a larger scheme with the Port Authorities Act coming into force,” he stated.
