Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Wednesday wrote to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant demanding a minimum period of 60 days must be provided for the public, panchayats and other stakeholders to submit objections and suggestions to the draft CZMP 2019, after its proper and official publication.
“Citizens are being given an extremely short period of 6 to 8 days to study, understand and raise objections to the draft CZMP. I wish to state that such a limited timeframe is inadequate, unjust, and against the spirit of democratic consultation envisaged under the CRZ framework,” Alemao said in the letter.
According to Alemao, the CZMP is not a routine document. It is a highly technical plan that directly determines land use, coastal regulation, environmental protection, and most importantly, the livelihoods of thousands of Goans—especially traditional fishing communities, coastal farmers, toddy tappers, and residents of coastal villages. Any error or omission in this plan can permanently and irreversibly affect their lives and rights.
He said that the draft CZMP must be clearly explained to the people at the village and Gram Sabha level, with officials present to clarify maps, boundaries and implications, so that an informed and meaningful discussion can take place.
“All errors, omissions and incorrect demarcations pointed out by villagers, traditional communities and local bodies must be formally recorded and corrected before the plan is finalised,” he said.
