the goan I network
PANAJI/MARGAO
The Goa government on Thursday sent out invitations to all 40 legislators to attend a power-point presentation on the draft Coastal Zone Management Plans prepared for the two districts of North Goa and South Goa even as it has come under severe pressure to scrap the two documents.
The presentation will be held on Friday at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hall of the Goa Legislative Assembly Complex at Porvorim.
Pressure has been mounting on the State government to scrap the two draft CZMPs and defer the planned public hearings scheduled by the two district collectors at the Taleigao Community Hall and the Ravindra Bhavan for July 7.
Close on the heels of Goa’s greens and civil society formally asking the government on Wednesday to scrap the draft CZMPs, the principal Opposition party -- the Congress -- joined the chorus with the party’s spokesperson and Architect Tulio de Souza saying at a press conference that his party demands scrapping of the draft CZMPs as private real estate and hospitality projects besides several private jetties had cropped up in it.
Pressure on the government also heightened on Thursday with two senior politicians from the ruling coalition’s own stable -- Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai and Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo -- also raising serious concerns over flaws in the CZMPs.
Sources said, Sardesai voiced strong reservations over the way the hearings are sought to be conducted. In informal discussions at cabinet meeting, he also raised issues over the CZMPs paying scant attention to Goa’s unique khazan lands.
Sardesai, however told the Goan that he will speak his mind on the issues at the power point presentation arranged for MLAs on Friday.
“I will raise all issues at the power point presentation scheduled on Friday. There are issues which need clarity and I will point them out”, he said, adding those demanding postponement of the hearings and scrapping of the exercise should also suggest alternatives.
Lobo, whose Calangute constituency is largely covered by CRZ rules, was more scathing in his opposition to the hearings and draft plans.
Loba has demanded that the CZMP drafted by the Chennai-based agency be redrafted with the maps of the Regional Plan 2021 as the base maps as they depict the realistic scenario in Goa’s coastal belts.
The Congress’ Tulio de Souza meanwhile said the draft plans should be redone with people’s participation as mandated by the 73rd and 74th amendment.
“Congress extends support to civil society and protests against these plans,” he said, referring to Goa’s green activists on Wednesday formally meeting Director for Environment Ravi Jha, IAS, and demanding postponement of the July 7 hearings.
