the goan I network
VASCO
Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) along with other fishermen societies submitted a letter to the Collector of North Goa demanding cancellation of the public hearing on Draft Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMP) maps scheduled for July 7 citing serious procedural lapses.
GRE claimed that the entire process of preparing the CZMP as per the guidelines laid by the CRZ notification 2011 was totally flawed and unacceptable on behalf of the coastal communities of Goa. GRE demanded Taluka level public hearings be organised so that maximum fishermen communities representatives can attend and submit their objections so that justice is met to each and every individual.
Olencio Simoes, General Secretary, GRE said that both the designated venues of Talegaon community hall, Caranzalem and Ravindra Bhavan in Margao do not have the capacity to accommodate all the traditional fisher folk from North districts which have 6 talukas and 103 fishing villages and South districts which has 6 talukas and 70 fishing villages.
“Apart from fisher folk, hundreds of other citizens will also be present and these venues are not equipped to handle the safety and sanitation risks involved for the public hearing which is scheduled to last for only 9 hours,” said Simoes.
It’s mandatory to demarcate and Mapping of the hazard line shall be carried out in 1:25,000 scale for macro level planning and 1:10,000 scale or cadastral scale for micro level mapping and the hazard line shall be taken into consideration while preparing the land use plan of the coastal areas taking into account, tide, waves, sea level rise and shoreline changes which is not available on the website of the GCZMA nor in any plans uploaded in the website, he said.
“The National parks, marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, The wildlife habitats and other protected areas under the provisions of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972), the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (69 of 1980) or Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986); including Biosphere Reserves are not listed in the maps prepared by GCZMA. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary which is at Island of Chorão is not show in the maps besides the Horse shoe crabs habitats, Sea grass beds and associated biodiversity, beach stretches along the bays and creeks are not surveyed and mapped in the present map.”
