MARGAO
It’s official. When hundreds, if not thousands of citizens from across the district may be bracing up to participate in the March 7 public hearing on the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, not more than 150 participants will be registered for the public hearing scheduled on Sunday, beginning from 10.30 am.
An order issued by Acting South Goa district Collector, Surendra Naik further said that the participants can register themselves for the public hearing up to 5 pm on March 6.
The order states that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) restricts the number of persons gathered to 50 per cent of the sitting capacity at the venue of the public Hearing with adequate social distancing and other safeguards in view of Covod-19 pandemic.
The authorities have also employed use of virtual platform/online facilities in additional of the physical hearing process.
Given that the hearing will be conducted within a prescribed time-frame, it has been decided that one speaker will not be permitted to speak beyond a time limit of five minutes.
Given the limitation, the Acting Collector in his order has said that not more than 150 participants will be registered as speakers, including both the mediums.
The order states that Participants can also submit their concern/objections/ representations in writing to GCZMA or at South Goa Collectorate Registration counter, set-up at the ground floor, Mathanhy Saldanha Complex.
As far as the NGOs are concerned, the orders that NGOs who wish to express their views shall do so through only one authorized representative per NGO, who shall also compulsory register for the hearing.
Those participants who are unable to attend the public hearing and /or those who could not get the slot to express their views, will be allowed to submit all their concern/objections/ representations in writing and submit at the Desk set up at the venue at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.
