Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott demands Proper CZMP 2019 Plan from Govt
Panjim-Goa: Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott Olencio Simoes stated that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority has mocked the people of Mormugao Taluka by walking out at Taluka level presentation at Ravindra Bhavan Baina, if the officers can’t answer the apprehension of the people of Mormugao taluka then why was the presentation conducted under tight police security questioned olencio.
Olencio stated that this Union was formed by Late Matanhy Saldanha in 1973 who was the forest and environment minister of Goa and eventually led to formation of The National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) in 1985 in which 9 coastal states are affiliated to NFF under the leadership of our late leader Matanhy Saldanha.
In March 1989, the NFF organized a coastal yatra of around 25,000 NFF members, one of the first steps by the fishing community demanding a set of laws to protect the coastal areas of India. With the slogan to “Protect Water, Protect Life”, one group marched from West Bengal to Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu and another group from Kutch, Gujarat to Kanyakumari. While the ‘Kanyakumari March’ culminates at Kanyakumari with bullets being fired at and injuring 21 fish workers, it brings the issues of coastal conservation and the relationship of natural resources to traditional communities to national attention. This in turn gives momentum to the movement to protect India’s coasts via a specific legislation one of which was Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification.
This government have insulted the contribution done by late Matanhy Saldanha towards fisher communities and protection of Goa’s environment, As The CRZ Notification was passed with an intent to ensure livelihood security to the fisher communities and other local communities, living in the coastal areas, to conserve and protect coastal stretches, its unique environment and its marine area and to promote development in a sustainable manner.
Stating that the biggest blunder the NCSCM has done that it has not used the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 1996 plans as a base map to prepare the draft CZMP 2019 based on the CRZ Notification, 1991 beside this the NCSCM has committed a major flaw by not inducing hazard line and CRZ –IV area from the Low Tide Line to twelve nautical miles which are not shown. Similarly Corals and coral reefs and associated biodiversity at Grande Island and Bat Island was not shown in draft CZMPS.
Agnelo rodrigues president of GRE stated that In Mormugao taluka fishing villages at Vasco da Gama (Khariwada), Baina, Bogmalo, Velsao, Baina, Desterro, Hollant, Santarem, Cansaulim, Arossim,Sancolae,Cortalim, San Jacinto Island is not shown, along with Fishing stakes, the estuarine ecosystem of Zuari which consist of 186 aquatic species, window-pane oysters available at Chicalim,Sancoale and 128 different species of seashells found in sandy offshore , soft white sand ,rocky shores ,intertidal waters atBogmallo,Hollant,Velsao,Cansaulim,Arosim, tributaries of River Zuari non are demarcated in the draft CZMP.
Olencio stated that the NCSCM has conducted Beach carrying capacity report prepared by NCSCM where it stated that Sand dunes from Cansaulim,Culim,Arosim,Pale Velsao is 1,17,944 sq mts and total of 23,20,918 sq mtswas not shown in the draft CZMPs and Creeks at Bogmalo is 3659.41sqm, Baina is 2797.35,Betul to Cansaulim is 266822.1sq mt prepared by NCSCM and wonder why the same did not reflect in the draft CZMP maps.
GRE has requested the CM Dr.Promod Sawant and Environment Minster Nilesh Cabral to prepare proper plan by doing proper ground truthing. If the CZMP 1996 was prepared then half of Goa would have not been submerged today due to heavy rain as most water bodies are been encroached in CRZ areas and due to this road,houses, built in CRZ areas filled with water.
Therefore in future no such natural calamities should arise we demand from the government a to prepare proper CZMP 2019 plan by taking all the shake holders into confidence.