GOVT BOWS DOWN TO PRESSURE; CABRAL HITS OUT, SAYS CAN’T SATISFY ALL
PANAJI
Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral on Friday ruled out any further continuation in the public hearing on the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) and said people who wish to put forth their objections and suggestions could submit them in writing by July 15.
Rejecting demands for a continuation of the public hearing, Cabral made it clear that this exercise had been carried out for the fourth time and the 2011 plan had not yet been finalised.
He also hit out at those criticising the arrangements at both venues and demanding a continuation of the public hearing, stating that some of these elements could never be satisfied.
Cabral said the minutes of the public hearing on the draft CZMP had been finalised and would be uploaded on the department’s
website.
“People can also suggest changes to these minutes and submit them by July 15,” said Cabral.
The minister assured that all suggestions submitted by people, either during the public hearings or in writing, would be forwarded to the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) for necessary modifications.
“The NCSCM will make the necessary changes and send it back to the State government. It will then be sent to the Centre for notification,” he added.
Refuting criticisms of improper arrangements at both venues of the public hearing in Campal and Margao on Thursday, Cabral insisted that the arrangements had been proper.
“We are conducting this exercise for the fourth time and the 2011 plan is still not yet finalised. It is not always possible to satisfy everyone and some people will never be satisfied,” said Cabral and alleged that some people have mischievously created noise at the venues of the public hearing.
