PANAJI
It was an unusual experience for Vasco-based Savio Correia and his son, Sherwyn, at the public hearing on the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) in Margao on Thursday.
As expert member at the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), Savio was on the dais listening carefully to presentations and submissions by various people from morning to night.
Incidentally, his own son, Sherwyn, a law student, had registered as a speaker at the public hearing and had Sherwyn been permitted to speak earlier in the day, it would have been a unique situation for a speaker to make a presentation before his own father and other members of the GCZMA.
However, it was not meant to be as a prolonged delay meant that Sherwyn would only be permitted to speak after 11 pm. Unable to remain so late, a disappointed Sherwyn handed over his written submissions to the GCZMA and left the venue.
“I had registered as a speaker for the Margao hearing by email, but there was some confusion. I was assured that I would be accommodated with the spot registrations. But my turn didn’t come until 11 pm, so I left the venue as it was too late and I had to return to Vasco,” said Sherwyn.
“The curfew was in force, public transport was scarce and restaurants in the area shut down at 6 pm. The non-stop hearing was a bad call and I am sure many speakers couldn’t present on account of this. However, I handed over my written submissions to the GCZMA,” Sherwyn added.
For Savio, it was a unique experience to have his son as one of the participants at the public hearing.
“In addition to being on the “other side” this time, having Sherwyn as one of the participants was a unique experience,” said Savio, who has participated in several environmental public hearings as an activist.
“This generation has a mind of its own and I am happy that his heart and mind yearn for Goa and his involvement in youth advocacy to protect and preserve her environment.”
