the goan I network
PORVORIM
A special gram sabha of Penha-de-Franca on Saturday gave its consent to the revised Coastal Zone Management Plan prepared by the panchayat after some modifications.
Penha-de-Franca sarpanch Gurunath Vernekar welcomed the gram sabha, while Ganpat Sidhaye explained the features of the revised CRZ plan prepared by the panchayat after considering all suggestions of villagers.
Former Revenue minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte, who was present at the Gram Sabha, made some suggestion to protect the interest of the fishing community.
The Gram Sabha later unanimously passed two resolutions stating that the government should notify Wards 1 to 6 as fishing villages and protect traditional fishing and their rights to fishing activities, while
passages connecting roads and rivers should be clearly shown in the CRZ plan.
Speaking at the Gram Sabha, Khaunte said the panchayat had prepared the revised plan after considering all suggestions by villagers in the last gram sabha. “The interest of all stakeholders has been considered. The panchayat should request for a copy of the final CZMP prepared by the State government and check if all suggestions and modifications made by the panchayat have been incorporated in the final CZMP. Once this CZMP is submitted by the State government to the Centre, nothing can be done later,” said Khaunte.
