the goan I network
MARGAO
Asserting that no purpose will be served with the ongoing consultation exercise carried out by the government on the Goa Coastal Zone Management Plan, social activist Abhijit Prabhudesai said the only way to take the plan forward is by preparing it after seeking inputs from local
villagers.
He made it clear to the government that the people of Goa are not opposed to the plan, but they want a plan without discrepancies. He is hoping that the government will take public sentiments into account before setting out to prepare the plan.
Terming the ongoing taluka-level presentations by the government as nothing, but to fool the people, Abhijit demanded to know how can there be any presentation when the plan itself is faulty and is a fraud on the people.
“Let mew clarify that the people of Goa are not opposed to the plan as is made out to be. The people of Goa want the plan, but they have a one-point demand: Please send a team of government experts, including the NIO, WRD, fisheries, surveyors to the village panchayats and enlighten them on CRZ issues. They want to be involved in drafting the plan,” Abhijit said.
He called upon the government to stop the ongoing taluka-level presentations and go to the village panchayats and involve people in formulating the plan.
“Why is the government putting the people to hardships by holding the taluka-level presentations when the plan itself is faulty? Will any purpose be served when the plan has discrepancies galore?” he questioned.
Justifying the ongoing protests against the taluka-level presentations, Abhijit said the people of Goa are now woken up and have realized that a faulty plan was sought to be imposed on them by the agencies. “Are the people not justified in lodging their protests when thousands of houses of Goans are included in the CZMP. That’s not all. The state’s water bodies, including streams, lakes, ponds, fishing areas, mangroves, khazans have found no mention on the plan. You expect the people to sit quiet at home and watch how the plan denies them their rights on water bodies and khazans,” Abhijit demanded to know, while reiterating that the plan, if not opposed by the people of Goa, would have wiped off communities with one stroke.
