PANAJI
Different groups have slammed the rejection of Goa’s CZMP plea on the port limits by the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA).
The Goencho Swabhiman Party (GSP) said the rejection of Goa’s CZMP plea on port limits by the NCZMA is an outright and cold-blooded violation and attack on the rights of local Goans over their coastal zones.
“This cornering of Goa’s coastlands puts the livelihoods of fishermen and locals engaged in various coastal occupations in dire jeopardy. It also raises questions about the status of longstanding homes built in this zone by the fishing community,” stated the GSP.
“It is utterly unacceptable that the government should trample upon the rights of locals by brutal commercialisation of these ecologically fragile and crucial areas just to satisfy the greed and vested interests of its favoured crony capitalists.”
“Although the CRZ notification clearly prioritises the importance of the economic and social well-being of coastal communities, the powers vested with Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) clearly is against the very spirit of the protection accorded to the local communities.” “In this case, the community resources of Goa are being practically “conquered” and usurped by its own government and taken out of the hands of its people who have lived and loved this land for generations. Such an intolerable anti-people move is to be strongly condemned,” the GSP added.
Citizens for Coastal Communities Secretary Diana Tavares said the people of Goa have created, owned, protected and used Goa’s coastal areas for thousands of years.
“In this Republic of India, the people reign supreme and the union and state governments are bound to implement the people’s plans. But, both the State and the union governments have betrayed the people and the Constitution.”
“The biggest villain in this plot is NCSCM, who has openly and arrogantly abused its position to manipulate the demarcation of sand dunes, mangroves, roads, etc to help big hotels, real estate, coal lobby and other greed-driven, short-term profiteers.”
The NCSCM plans will completely displace Goans, destroy our economies and devastate Goa’s environment. On the other hand, the people of Goa have prepared detailed, accurate, sustainable CZMPs, but both the State and Union governments do not want to even see the facts, or to hear the voices of the people.”
“People of Goa will not allow anyone to destroy Goa’s Coasts, and both the Union and State Government are forewarned not to take Goans’ for granted,” added Tavares.
The Rainbow Warriors warned that the people of Goa would not rest without getting the people’s CZMP plans approved.
“The Mormugao Port Authority and its railway link to British India were built in the late 19th century by the British only to loot India’s resources and destroy India’s own economy and environment. Unfortunately, Goa’s liberation did not change anything,” said Abhijit Prabhudesai of Rainbow Warriors.
“Now, the union government is trying to make MPA the landlord of Goa, to give Goa on a platter to corporates just like their own berths.”
“The union and State governments and all the greedy speculators eyeing Goa should know that Goans will retain their sovereignty over the lands and waters at all costs. The people of Goa will never surrender their sovereignty over the coasts, and will not rest without getting the people’s CZMP plans approved,” said Prabhudesai.
