the goan I network
MAPUSA
Slamming the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) for obstructing works in the State, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday assured the Goa Legislative Assembly that his government would bring about the desired development in the State.
“Government is not creating problems. Hurdles are being created by the NGOs. Government is ready to do everything to ensure development,” Sawant said.
The chief minister was responding to concerns of the members over delay in getting CRZ permission to install facilities like toilet and changing rooms on the beaches.
To buttress his statement against the NGOs, the CM said the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) has been prepared and dispatched by all the States, except Goa.
“It is very important to send it (the CZMP). Only ours is left,” he said.
The CM said for a small Goa with a population of 15 lakh there were 3,000 NGOs, 2,000 of which were unregistered.
“All these people bring obstruction on whatever development work the government is taking up. We are here to do development. Whatever infrastructure, especially the changing room, toilets and other facilities that are required on beaches will be made available. These facilities are needed and we will give them,” said Sawant, even as the ruling members thumped the desks acknowledging the CM’s
assurance.
Blaming the NGOs for raising unnecessary issues, Benaulim MLA Churchill MLA wondered aloud whether NGT and CRZ were applicable only in Goa and not in other States.
“World tourism goes very close to the beach. It looks like CRZ and NGT is only applicable to Goa,” Alemao rued.
He said Colva was an iconic beach but if tourists do not get toilet and changing room facilities then tourism was meaningless.
Earlier, Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa told the House that Majorda panchayat had issued NOC to install toilets and information centre on Utorda beach, but due to delay in getting CRZ permission the facility was held back.
“We cannot pressurize the GCZMA. A lot of works have remained pending because of CRZ permission. At some places, it grants permission and denies at other places. That’s another problem,” said Tourism Minister Babu Azgaonkar.
He said the government had received funds through the Swadesh Dharshan Scheme and requested the coastal MLAs to come forward to get work done.
