the goan I network
MARGAO
Goans Against CRZ18 (GACRZ) has condemned the hurried approval given by the Central government to the CRZ notification 2018 despite various objections raised by environmentalists, the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) and other stakeholders.
The greens maintain the notification will bring an ecological disaster, especially for the coastal belt of Goa.
GACRZ18 Convenor Kennedy Afonso said that by giving approval to the CRZ notification 2018, the BJP government has diluted the conditions laid in the CRZ 2011 notifications and has trampled on the NGT order stating CZMP plans have to completed first before any other amendments are carried out.
GACRZ18 blamed the BJP government in Goa for giving its approval to the CRZ notification and sending it to MoEF, Delhi, without consulting the people of Goa. It asserted that the BJP government has bypassed over a lakh signatories, who had signed against the CRZ18 notification.
“The reduction of the NDZ from 200 meters to 50 meters will destroy the fragile coastal ecology of Goa and will turn our beaches into concrete jungles. This will in the long run kill tourism in Goa. Local fishermen will be displaced and local shack owners and hoteliers will not survive the exodus of migrant businessmen descending on the coastal belt, as they have already purchased these prime beach facing properties in Goa,” he asserted.
He further said that the reduction of NDZ to 20 meters for islands will further destroy the fragile islands like St Estevam, Divar, Vanxim, San Jacinto, and feared that the beauty of these places will be lost forever.
Reminding that GACRZ18 had organized nine village-wise protests to raise awareness among the people on this issue, Afonso said that the NGO will continue to fight to protect the coastal belt, the last frontier left of Goa, and requests the people of the State to rise as one to oppose this notification.
