the goan I network
MARGAO
Sounding the bugle for a sustained battle against the CRZ notification, a meeting held at the historic Lohia Maidan on Saturday under the banner of the National Fishworkers Forum has rejected the CRZ 2019 notification with a demand to roll it back with
immediate effect and to come out with a comprehensive Coastal Regulation Zone Act in consultation with the coastal community.
The Congress, NCP and the Aam Aadmi Party lent their support to the month-long agitation as evident by the presence of party leaders at the meeting.
Speakers vowed to intensify the agitation after March 23 if the government fails to withdraw the notification. The speakers also called for immediate steps to restore the coast and also address the issues of reckless development happening in the name of Sagarmala and other anti-fishermen development policies.
A copy of the CRZ 19 notification was later set afire by the leaders as a protest after the meeting.
Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott General Secretary Olencio Simoes warned that Goa’s beach belt will be destroyed by the new CRZ notification which will spell doom for tourism and Goa’s economy.
He said Goa was given special protection in the last CRZ notification, but the CRZ 2019 has diluted everything and threatens the very existence of the State’s coast.
Olencio blamed the Modi government for copying the blue economy to tap the natural sea resources under the banner of Sagarmala project.
In his spirited address, Capt Viriato Fernandes made a fervent plea to the people of Goa not to sell their souls, saying the future generations will not forgive them.
He said the people, who were involved in the formation of the government by striking a Rs 250-crore deal and involved in large scale conversions, are also behind the CRZ notification.
Leader of the Opposition Babu Kavlekar said the Congress is totally opposed to the CRZ 19 notification saying he and GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar have already told the Congress Manifesto Committee to include the issue in the party’s Lok Sabha manifesto. “People come to Goa to enjoy the natural beauty,” he said, and questioned whether tourism will sustain in Goa without the beaches.
AAP state convenor Elvis Gomes underlined the need to take the agitation forward to force the powers that be to withdraw the notification and protect Goa’s beach belt and tourism from destruction.
Saying that the CRZ 19 notification is not in the interest of the fishing community, NCP President Jose Philip D’Souza said it will only benefit the people from outside the State, who have purchased huge chunks of beach properties along the coast.
CRZ activist Kennedy Afonso said Goans should voluntarily observe Goa bandh after March 23 if the government does not roll back the CRZ notification.
Activist Rupesh Shinkre made a power point presentation on the destruction that would be caused by the CRZ notification in the State.
Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott President, Agnelo Rodrigues, Fr Eremito Rebello, Ramkrishna Jhalmi, Rama Kankonkar and Custodio D’Souza were amongst the speakers who addressed the meeting.
Congress MLAs Digambar Kamat, Reginaldo Lourenco, Wilfred D’Sa and Clafacio Dias, besides GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar, Mahila Congress chief Pratima Coutinho, NCP Chief Jose Philip D’Souza were seen seated in the audience.
