the goan I network
MARGAO
Even as the government has scrapped the July 7 public hearing on the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), the Federation of Rainbow Warriors, which had spearheaded the campaign against the plan, has demanded that the same be prepared by roping in the National Institute of Oceanography or Goa University in consultation with the local communities and panchayats.
Rainbow Warriors further made it clear that though the MLAs had supported the demand of the people for the scrapping of the CZMP hearings, they did not study the plans in details.
“NCSCM has clearly shown its lack of understanding of Goa’s lands, waters and people. Across the state, people have expressed their anger at its attempt to destroy their villages and displace them. It is therefore the demand of the people of Goa that the plans be prepared by NIO or Goa University, not NCSCM, in consultation with the local communities and panchayats,” asserted Abhijit Prabhudesai, General Secretary, Federation of Rainbow Warriors.
At a media briefing in the presence of Sidharth Karapukar, Diana Tavares, Jose Coutinho, Lea Gomes and Wilma Dias, Abhijit said the people of Goa have completely rejected the CZMPs prepared by NCSCM and have also objected to the procedures employed to prepare these
and the participation of the people.
“The plans reveal that NCSCM has completely failed to do its job since fishing villages, fish breeding areas and fishing areas are almost completely ignored. The HTL is brought completely into khazans and fields and thousands of homes of indigenous Goans are brought within ambit of CRZ laws, putting them under duress and mental torture due to the real threat of demolition of their homes and restrictions on future constructions,” he said.
Abhijit said these plans, which attempt to displace thousands of Goans while enabling shipping in the rivers and big hotels along the coastline by corporations, have been prepared without consulting any local residents or authorities. “It is clear that NCSCM does not have the objectives of protection of our coast or people, but to further the interests of big corporations,” he added.
Activist Sidharth Karapurkar said the nations are mandated by the UN convention to protect the livelihoods of the people inhabiting the coasts and the same has been signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The solution now lies in taking the plan to the panchayats to obtain the say of the local populace,” he said, adding, “If needed, we will even knock the doors of the UN to protect
the interest of the people affected by the CZMPs,” Karapurkar added.
