MARGAO
Clamour for the postponement of the July 8 public hearing on Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) is growing by the day in Salcete, with the Colva Panchayat even drawing the attention of the authorities that the government has invoked the National Security Act (NSA) in the district.
While the Colva Panchayat has joined the bandwagon in demanding postponement of the hearing, Aam Aadmi Party Benaulim Zilla Panchayat member Hanzel Fernandes on Thursday made a representation to the south Goa district Collector, South to defer the proposed hearing.
While objecting to the July 8 hearing, the Colva Panchayat said that several restrictions are in place for travel as well as government offices in times of pandemic. “Due to safety reasons and that people are scared of the virus due to gatherings, the hearing scheduled on July 8 should be cancelled. Further, even the NSA is imposed. The government should go for a people’s plan ensuring proper protocol”, the resolution proposed by outgoing Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes and seconded by Sarpanch Johnson Coelho stated.
Meanwhile, strongly demanding to defer the public hearing on the CZMP plan, saying there is still a lot of uncertainty over the hearing, Hanzel said the pandemic is still going on and there’s fear that the third wave may hit the State anytime, dissuading the people from attending the hearing.
“First and most importantly, this meeting has been called on an open ground in the middle of the monsoons. It will be difficult to accommodate citizens and the monsoons will create problems for those wanting to attend, especially those of advanced age”, he said in the memorandum.
Hanzel further contended that the time allocated per Speaker and will not be enough to accommodate the hearing and allow speakers to list out detailed objections. “The hearing needs to be done at the village and panchayat level. Since this is a long-term plan impacting all of Goa this hearing should be held at the level of each village panchayat and every Goan possible should be heard out”, he said.
The lives, homes and livelihoods of Goans are being discussed and therefore this process should not be attempted hastily, he said, adding “each and every voice should be heard, but the public hearing as planned will only be a farce”.
