PANAJI
Activists, youth from across the State have reacted with shock and anger after the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) on Tuesday declined the State government’s plea for deletion of port limits from the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP).
Speaking to The Goan, they denounced the decision as “shocking and draconian” as well as a “slap in the public’s face” as it completely ignored the efforts of civil society, villagers and experts during the public consultations.
“Looks like the annihilation of Goans and destruction of Goa has been pre-planned, and, sadly, the national agencies and state machinery are being criminally used for the stubborn execution of the anti-people plan,” said Chicalim Parish Priest and environmental activist Fr Bolmax Pereira.
“Let the central government agencies be warned not to take the Goans for granted. Let the constitutional purpose of the public hearing/consultation be upheld. Let the untiring efforts and genuine wishes of the people of Goa regarding our land and ecology be respected,” Fr Bolmax Pereira said.
Ana Smriti Paes, a student from Chicalim, claimed that after all the drama of the CZMP public hearings, the rejection of the demands and suggestions of the people is like a slap in the public’s face.
“Here is proof of how easy our systems have made it to promote unsustainable development and destruction of the environment. Are we going to stand by and watch Goa being wiped out off the face of the Earth?” asked Paes.
Added Tallulah Dsilva, an architect from Panaji: “This is shocking and draconian because the effort put into by civil society, villagers and experts to identify aberrations, missing data and record factual data on ground including marking on the plans is completely ignored.”
“It also reflects the true intention of environmental assault by governments and the relevant departments that are in fact supposed to protect and plan for conservation of the coast instead of further degradation in light of climate change.”
Sarita Fernandes, a coastal researcher from South Goa who is currently working in New Delhi, remarked that for a 105-km long coastal state, the decision displays disregard for coastal ecology, communities, futures and even common sense in planning and governance.
Yannah Marchon, a student from Santo Estevam insisted that the destruction of Goa isn’t something she is going to just sit by and watch.
“What kind of an inconsiderate government is this? Do they not realise the boundaries between destruction and development? Can they not see that not everything is meant to be monetised? Are they going to feed their children with this money? Or are they going to promise it to us next election,” were some of the queries raised by Marchon.
Peter Andrade from Vasco said he felt let down by the State government which has acted against its fundamental principle of protecting the interests of the land.
“After solemn assurances that port limits would be deleted from the CZMP, it now appears that port limits will continue to be shown on the maps.”
“The Major Port Authorities Act is causing immense anxiety to Goans; to add to it, marking of port limits on the CZMP will give complete legal sanctity to Mormugao Port Authority’s control over our waters and appurtenant areas.”
“Our traditional fishermen and others whose livelihood depend on coastal waters will be exposed to the wealth enhancing greed of corporates,” said Andrade.
