Agonda residents point out major flaws in draft CZMP-2019 maps

Agonda residents attend a special gram sabha meeting convened by rhe Sarpanch over CZMP-2019 on Monday.

CANACONA

Stating the submitted draft CZMP-2019 maps are not in conformity to the CZMP draft approved by the Agonda panchayat in 2019, residents of Agonda have insisted on the services of experts to explain the draft CZMP-2019 maps to them.

Claiming that the time allotted was insufficient to submit comments/suggestions, residents decided to seek an emergency gram sabha to demand an extension in the time period.

Agonda Sarpanch Nilesh Pagui convened an emergency gram sabha after several residents converged in the panchayat office to seek clarification and explanation on the draft CZMP-2019 maps, submitted by the government to the panchayat, seeking public comments/suggestions by January 20.

Residents informed the people have many reasonable comments to make on the draft CZMP-2019 maps, but want experts to explain the submitted maps and the information contained in them.

A villager, Hendrick Fernandes, said the government had informed that the different scale CZMP-2019 maps are arrived based on the old cadastral plans.

He submitted a copy of written reply he had received from Directorate of Settlement & Land Records, that Agonda village of Canacona Taluka was not surveyed during the erstwhile Portuguese regime and hence the old cadastral plans of Agonda village are not available for records.

“So, which cadastral plans are precisely used by the government should be clarified,” demanded Fernandes.

Added Sarpanch Pagui: “Though government said the draft CZMP-2019 are prepared based on old cadastral plans, we have a proof that the government does not have any such cadastral plans, as the same were not conducted for whole of Canacona taluka, including Agonda village.”

Pagui claimed that in the maps, people’s houses are not shown, buffer zone is shown in private property, the entire beach is shown as turtle nesting site.

“They have made so many other changes. Even though the coastal area is a fishing area, the fishing area, canoe parking area and many other issues are neglected and ignored in the maps. People have highlighted many major discrepancies in the draft CZMP-2019 maps.”

The Sarpanch further stated that the time period given to seek public comments and suggestions is too short.

“Accordingly, we have decided to seek more time and also demand the deputation of experts to explain the draft maps to the people, so that people can understand the draft CZMP-2019 maps and the report.”   

Another resident Cliford Fernandes said the people of Agonda do need a CZMP plan, but it should be done in a correct and proper way.