Are the elected with us or against us? If they are for us, they have to act and even risk expulsion from their party: nothing short. Just a few days back the government replied to the High Court that the hearing on the Marinas issue would be taken up after the CZMP is finalised. This is in sharp contrast to the earlier statement that the Marinas project was shelved.
The moot question here is: Who does the land and waters belong to? By all means of natural justice, it belongs to the inhabitants. If they have decided not to have the same then why all this ‘hearing’ etc? Again, I say: panchayats must make a protective clause for themselves that the village resources must be used not only by the current inhabitants but by their future generations. Land and water cannot be created: if you ‘sell’ off these now, the future generation will have to emigrate.
The CZMP is now being forced on us. Why did the government say the Marinas project was shelved and that the same will be taken up after the CZMP? Because, the CZMP will take over the rights of the people over land and water. It is imperative the panchayats pass the clause of sharing the resources with their generations.
The government has learned from Digambar Kamat: beaches, water, etc can be usurped by law. He showed this in the case of the beach made exclusive to Cidade de Goa: Goans not allowed. Now hundreds of other businessmen want exclusive beaches for homes and hotels. Hence the CZMP, MPT jurisdiction and river nationalisation.
