the goan I network
MARGAO
Special gram sabhas of as many as seven Salcete village panchayats on Sunday conveyed a message loud and clear to the government to prepare the draft of Coastal Zone Management Plans with inputs from the villages and panchayats and ensure that the draft was explained to the villagers by experts before granting approval.
The Varca special gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Shalini Pereira went a step further and demanded not only the scrapping of the controversial CZMP but also the nationalization of Goan rivers, which was against the people of the state.
The gram sabhas witnessed uproars over the plan which was silent on fishing areas, wards as well as the high tide lines. Members demanded that the CZMP should be drafted and kept open for public scrutiny only after taking the local bodies into confidence.
At the special gram sabha of Ambelim panchayat chaired by Sarpanch Denica Correia, members demanded that the new CZMP should be put in place with inputs from the village panchayats. Members, including former Sarpanch Cruz Silva, demanded that the government rope in experts to explain the features of the draft plan as and when it is prepared by the government, with members demanding that the plan should not be okayed unless the
same gets the nod of the gram sabha.
The Chinchinim special gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Inacinha Rebello, while opposing the plan prepared by the Chennai-based agency, called for the formulation of the draft by taking the local people into confidence.
Chinchinim Deputy Sarpanch Valentino Barretto said the discussions were centred on the areas such as Tolleabandh and Durga, with members demanding that the new plan should be formulated by taking the local stakeholders into confidence.
The special gram sabha of Rachol village panchayat chaired by Sarpanch Emi Oliveira also demanded that the government take the local stakeholders into
confidence before preparing the draft.
The sarpanch informed that the CZMP will have ramifications for Rachol village if the draft plan is not prepared without taking the ground reality into account.
The Curtorim special gram sabha chaired by acting Sarpanch Simon Barretto also demanded that the local panchayat bodies should be taken into confidence before preparing the draft CZMP for the village.
Members, including chairman of the Curtorim Biodiversity Committee J Santan Rodrigues raised points over the absence of fishing areas and wards in the plan.
Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, ZP Member Moreno Rebello and Panchayat members also attended the
meeting.
The issue also echoed at the special gram sabha of Carmona village panchayat chaired by Sarpanch Allwyn Jorge.
After much discussions on the controversial plan, gram sabha members demanded that the draft should be put in place in consultation with the local communities, panchayats and associations of fisherfolk, tenants and other local stakeholders.
During discussions on the flaws spotted in the CZMP, members offered a host of suggestions, with members pointing out that the plan does not show the village boundary clearly.
Members further demanded that all existing structures, including houses, buildings, bridges, roads must be shown in the plan.
Sarpanch Jorge informed that the CZMP, while not showing the Carmona beach boundary clearly, has shown areas of paddy fields as mangroves.
“The CZMP is a totally flawed draft. Neither the village panchayat nor the villagers have been consulted while preparing the draft plan,” the sarpanch said, while asserting the resolution will be forwarded to the Member Secretary Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority for further action.
