MARGAO
The United Goans Foundation has written a scathing letter to NCSCM highlighting the issue of missing sand dunes from their draft CZMP.
Foundation President Dr Ashish Kamat said from media reports it has come to attention that NCSCM had ignored sand dunes covering an area of lakhs of square metres across the State.
“UGF worked with Goa Foundation and crowdsourced information regarding sand dunes across Goa. We mapped around 50 lakh sq mts of sand dunes in addition to the 29 lakh sq mts of sand dunes shown by NCSCM in their draft map. Of this, around 45 lakh square metres has been reportedly been confirmed by the sub committee of GCZMA,” he said.
Kamat added: “This proves beyond doubt that NCSCM does not follow agreed and scientific methodology to identify sand dunes.”
He said the UGF also raised aspersion on the information that real estate owners are contacting NCSCM directly and bribing them to remove dunes you from the draft map.
“Sitting in Chennai the NCSCM has arbitrarily mapped dunes. This calls to question the integrity of the so-called reputed institution which has been appointed by ministry of environment to map the CZMP,” he said, adding ‘we feel that all the maps prepared by NCSCM for every coastal state in Goa has to be scrutinised by independent agency.”
Demanding a ban on NCSCM from preparing any coastal plan, Kamat demanded that the GCZMA upload all the reports prepared by the sub committee to scrutinise suggestion and objection submitted by the public and also upload all the draught plans prepared by NCSCM till date.
The UGF underlined the fact that just like the Port limits many other dangerous and draconian modifications have been done to the draft plan without knowledge of the GCZMA and the public at large all to benefit capitalists and cronies.
“All such transgressions on part of NCSCM will be used to challenge the faulty and misconceived CZMP,” he added.
