VASCO
Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral on Tuesday clarified that the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) was not about showing houses but about demarcation of area under the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) notification.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Mormugao Deputy Collector Sachin Desai, who is also the land acquisition officer for railways project, Cabral said people had been misguided.
“I have personally visited all talukas a year ago to listen to the people and resolve their issues. To those people who say that houses have not been shown in CZMP, I want to inform them that CZMP is not a plan to show houses.”
“The CZMP focuses on three aspects, the hazardous line, the high tide line and other factors like sand dunes, mud flaps and eco-sensitive areas.”
“This CZMP is only for demarcation of area as per CRZ Notifications and only HTL, Hazard line, sand dunes, mangroves, exotic sensitive areas, etc. will be marked.”
“After this is notified, areas before 1991 and those houses will be taken up in a different process which will happen later,” said the minister.
“The CZMP shows details like which is actually the highest point of line where the water table can rise in case of a tsunami and this is good for the people. I don’t know why there are so many apprehensions,” said Cabral.
The minister clarified that the MPT jurisdiction was not defined by him, but was notified way back in 1970s.
“The only issue is that there is no clarity about the port area where it is unclear if the port area mentioned is that of the MPT or Goa Port. I have myself raised an objection and have sought further clarity on whether the port area shown is MPT or Panaji Port.” “This will soon be resolved and once a draft is over and a permanent plan is drawn, we will make sure that there is clear-cut marking of areas of MPT and Goa Port,” said Cabral.
People in Curchorem constituency happy to give land: Cabral
VASCO: Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral said people in his Curchorem constituency were happy and willing to give their land for development.
Cabral told reporters that he had met Deputy Collector Sachin Desai to discuss about a new road in an underpass and to connect it to the main road in his constituency.
“Four days ago, an acquisition was put up under the Railways Act and people approached me asking me why we needed the Railways Act when they are giving consent for the sake of development. People in my constituency are happy and willing to give their land for development,” said Cabral.
“I have inaugurated two underpasses and one road overbridge, while another overbridge will commence and ultimately this is for the benefit of the people. My people have welcomed this development but in some other areas people have been misguided and I cannot comment on that. I can only explain to people that it is for the people to decide,” said Cabral.
