PANAJI
The National Coastal Zone Management Authority’s (NCZMA) decision to decline the State government’s proposal to incorporate limits to coal handling in the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for Goa has also come in for sharp criticism in Chicalim.
“No limits for coal handling in CZMP? Means coal will now drastically encroach the biodiversity of my Chicalim village, which is already fighting the high-rise buildings and multi-dwelling projects that have put a scar on our biodiversity,” said Crispino Faria of Chicalim.
“The impact of coal will be irreversible. For whom are these rules and acts passed? The Supreme Court should take suo moto cognisance of this and stop such laws from being passed. Why always the local people have to suffer?”
“And if 'laaton ke bhooth baaton se nahim mante' then we Goans should not hesitate to take seriously the advice 'rostear haddun mar ghalpak zai',” added Faria.
Rui M da Costa Araújo, chairman of Chicalim Biodiversity Management Committee, said the entire exercise of people's participation, Gram Sabha resolutions and meetings at the panchayat level with reference to the Draft Report of CZMP for Goa “was a big farce and like pouring water on duck's back.”
“This is a complete violation of democratic norms towards participatory environmental governance. The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority should have wholeheartedly represented the ground reality. Goa should react considering especially its stakeholders,” said Araújo.
