the goan I network
OLD GOA
The revised CZMP for St Lawrence-Agassaim village was placed before the public at the gram sabha held on Sunday.
Speaking to The Goan, sarpanch Xavier Gracias informed that though the panchayat has already submitted the revised CZMP to the government on October 7, the same was placed before the public and it will be kept open for one week for suggestions if any.
“After that, the panchayat would submit the final CZMP to the government,” Gracias informed.
He said that there were major anomalies in the draft CZMP sent by the government. The low tide line (LTL) was wrongly shown and it has been corrected, he said and added, a lot of biodiversity exists in Agassaim.
It has been showcased in the plan along with photographic evidence. For instance, a shellfish locally named ‘Sutem’ is found only here during the months of June, July and August, and it has been shown in the plan. “I had clicked photos of this shellfish during my childhood and it has been attached to the plan,” Gracias stated.
He further stated that there exists a historical cross along with the island in the river Zuari where window oysters are found. “It was not shown in the government plan and we have incorporated it in our revised plan,” Gracias pointed out. “The ruins of the Kadamba port dating back to 850-1250 exist in Agassaim and it has been shown in the plan. Earlier it was incorrectly shown as a boundary line,” sarpanch Gracias,” stated while adding that the port ruins run across Agassaim to Siridao.
“I have urged the other two panchayats namely Goa Velha and Siridao to also include the same in their plans,” he added. “Fishing activities namely ‘Ari’ have been incorporated in the revised plan,” Gracias informed while adding that the panchayat has also demanded that houses existing till date have to be considered and not just those existing till 1991, as the government states.
“Earlier, the people were not aware of the CZMP plan and hence we have demanded that the government consider the houses which are existing till date,” Gracias stated. “In the draft CZMP, two fishermen wards were wrongly shown which have been removed as they do not exist. The only fishermen ward shown on the plan is located in Dandi,” Gracias pointed out.
The sarpanch further said that he got help from captain Viriato in preparing the revised CZMP. “The panchayat also held ward wise gram sabhas wherein the locals were apprised about the plan and related information was collected. Later, a CZMP
committee was formed and the plan was formulated,” Gracias said.
Siridao coastal plan ready, to be submitted to govt soon
OLD GOA: The Siridao-Paliem VP has finally put in place its own coastal zone management plan (CZMP) after incorporating suggestions and objections from the public. The plan would be submitted to the government at the earliest, informed sarpanch Camilo Marques. In the revised CZMP, the high tide line (HTL) has been shown parallel to the bundh, khazan fields which were shown as mangrove areas have been reverted back to khazan fields along with salt pans and paddy fields.
Explaining the same at a meeting held in the church hall on Sunday, Siridao parish priest Fr Valerian Vaz said that the HTL was moved inland wherever saline water entered. “However, the HTL cannot go beyond the sluice gates and hence we have shown HTL parallel to the bundh,” Fr Vaz informed. “Due to breach in the bundhs, saline water entered the khazan fields, salt pans and paddy fields resulting in the growth of mangroves, which led the agency to show these areas as mangrove areas.
