Goemkaponn Desk
PANAJI: Fishermen’s associations today has submitted a memorandum to the government demanding that the public hearing on the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) be held at Taluka level instead of district level.
Government has announced that public hearing on draft CZMP will be held on March 7 at two venues – Taleigao Community Hall in North Goa and Ravindra Bhavan in South Goa.
Olencio Simoes, of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott said that the memorandum submitted by them has pointed out that it will not be advisable to hold the public hearing at just two venues for fishermen community of over 30,000 members amidst the covid pandemic.
“Drop the venue and hold taluka level public hearings across Goa at different dates and time,” he demanded.
He also informed that draft plans for over 50 villages have not yet been uploaded for public scrutiny.
“Instead of focusing on marking fishing villagers, fishing zones, water bodies etc as mandated by CRZ guidelines, they have marked port limits, aquaculture etc which are not mentioned in guidelines,” he alleged.