MARGAO
Activists as well as officials are keeping their fingers crossed as the review petitions in respect of the July 8 Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs) public hearings are coming up before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday.
Officials in private pointed out that while all preparations are underway for the July 8 CZMP hearings in both North and South Goa districts, the review petitions which are coming up before the NGT will finally decide the fate of the hearings.
At least two review petitions have been filed before the NGT on the order passed by the Tribunal to complete the process by August 31.
Sources said the petitioners have drawn attention of the NGT that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) is conducting the public hearing exercise in a hurry because of the outer date fixed by the Tribunal to complete the exercise.
Sources informed that the 15 minute time duration fixed by the GCZMA for each speaker and that the hearings are being conducted in open air in times of Covid has been cited in the review petitions. “The GCZMA is taking advantage of the NGT order by trying to bulldoze its way with the public hearings. They want to conduct the hearings like they did in Amona and Navelim in the mining cases. What they have failed to realize is that while the Amona and Navelim hearings were conducted for the people staying in the area, the July 8 Public hearings are meant for people staying across the length and breadth of the state”, sources said.
As already reported, the GCZMA and the district administrations are planning to conduct a non-stop public hearings on the CZMP on July 8. In South Goa, a massive pandal is being erected to accommodate the participants.
The district Collector has promised to tweak Section 144 of the Cr P C and the SOP on Covid protocols before the hearing scheduled on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the government has clarified that objections and suggestions for CZMP pertaining to Khazan Lands, Bunds and Sluice Gates will be referred to 'WRD' and the ones related to Fishing Wards and Fishing Zone will be referred to Fisheries Department for enquiry.
Environment ministry further clarified that no structures will be depicted on final CZMP map. All structures which are shown on the map will be removed, according a press release.
“The Hazard line is merely a tool to enhance disaster management plans and is not a regulatory line,” the state Environment department has clarified further.
For more information on the Coastal Regulation Zones, citizens have been asked to visit http://czma.goa.gov.in
