PANAJI
With just days to go for the July 8 public hearing on Coastal Zone Management Plan, Non-Governmental Organisations, activists and experts from across the State put forth issues and concerns regarding the draft at a meeting with the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) on Saturday.
The GCZMA had convened the meeting in a bid to reach out to NGOs, activists and experts, ahead of the public hearing in connection with the draft CZMP.
According to sources, the GCZMA was open to ideas and suggestions put forth by the NGOs, activists and experts at the meet.
Various issues and concerns regarding the draft CZMP, including khazans, water bodies, hilly areas along coast and the need for topographical maps, sand dunes and turtle nesting sites were raised and discussed at the meeting.
Among those NGOs, activists and experts present at the meeting included Goa Foundation, Roshan Mathias, Antonio Mascarenhas and Gabrielle de Cruz.
Rahul Basu spoke on khazans and said they occupy 48 per cent of the total area under CRZ, while Roshan Mathias highlighted the hilly areas along the coast and the need for topographical maps.
Antonio Mascarenhas also raised concerns on sand dunes.
GCZMA Chairperson Kunal, Member Secretary Dasharath Redkar, GCZMA four expert members Savio Correia, Flaviano Miranda, Sujeetkumar Dongre and Mahesh Patil, Asst Conservator of Forests Paresh Parab were also present at the meeting on behalf of the GCZMA.
Member Secretary Dasharath Redkar when asked about the meeting said Goa Foundation and other NGO members came and put forward various objections raised about the draft Coastal Zone Management plan. They also had many other points.
"The members have been told to put in writing the points they require to convene to the CZMP. All members have agreed to this suggestion", said Redkar.
The public hearing on the coastal plan have been scheduled for July 8 both in the North and the South and is expected to be a non-stop affair where speakers will be heard till the last one makes his submission.
