MAPUSA
Residents in Tivim pointed out some of the inconsistencies in the new draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for Tivim village and urged the panchayat to request the Coastal Zone Management Authority to carry out necessary changes in the draft plan.
The villagers raised objection to the mangroves shown on the draft CZMP along the river at Gavoi in Tivim instead of paddy fields.
“As per the plan, the entire area along the river has been shown as mangroves. But these were paddy fields which were cultivated by the locals in the past. We registered our objection against the depiction of mangroves instead of the paddy fields,” said Robert Colaco, a local.
The Tivim panchayat had organised a special meeting for the locals to discuss the new draft CZMP for the village and the erection of towers for a power project.
The locals also pointed out a flaw in the draft coastal plan where the continuity of a water body near the Alphonso saw mill was not shown in the plan.
“The CZMP has failed to show the water body connecting to the main river in the plan,” a local said.
During the discussion over the towers for the power project, it was found that one of the towers was coming within the CRZ area at Gavoi, while another was coming up close to a religious structure and residential houses.
“The villagers have requested that the existing infrastructure should be used to bring the new 400 KVA power line by raising the height of the existing towers instead of erecting new towers. This will also save the residential houses,” said Sharmila Gadekar, Sarpanch.
Eight panchayat members and around 10 locals were present for the special meeting held at the panchayat hall. Tivim Panchayat Secretary Dhiraj Govekar was also present.
