MARGAO
Opposition to the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) echoed at the coastal village of Cavelossim on Sunday, with gram sabha members objecting to the floating jetty on the beach and resolving not to allow Blue Flag certification in the village jurisdiction.
The gram sabha demanded de-notification of the Betul Port and removal of Port Limits in Cavelossim jurisdiction, both at the river Sal and the Cavelossim beach.
At the gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Dionizio Dias on Sunday, the CZMP dominated the proceedings at Cavelossim, which is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on the west and river on the South and East, with the CZMP marking the beach and river as Port Limits.
The Cavelossim panchayat has already dashed off a letter to Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral, highlighting the host of anomalies in the CZMP.
Besides the points mentioned in the letter to the Environment Minister, the gram sabha on Sunday demanded that the plan make a mention of the beach access near hotels and approved plans.
It was decided that the authorities construct a retaining wall along the river to restrict the hazard line up to the retaining wall along the embankment.
Gram sabha members also raised objections to permission by GCZMA to events in intertidal zones and NOCs given for commercial activities on sand dunes.
Sarpanch Dionizio said that gram sabha demanded that the PWD and panchayat roads in CRZ areas be shown in the plan, adding that a suggestion was also made to show settlement structures existing in CRZ areas.
He said the villagers have demanded that the settlement up to 1991 should be shown in the CRZ limits in the CZMP, adding that the structures have been identified in the plan submitted by the panchayat.
“Traditional beach activity of locals such as traditional fishermen, beach shacks and water sports should be shown in the CZMP as per the plans of the panchayat. The sand dunes have to be shown as per the true nature of existence and should not be shown beyond the 500 metre line,” the sarpanch added.
