Goemkarponn desk
Margao: The District level Public Consultation of draft CZMP , 2011 conducted on07 / 03 / 2021 at Ravindra Bhavan Margao
The following conducted the Public Consultation – Surendra Naik, Agnelo AJ.Fernandes, Gaurish Kuttikar, Savio Corriea, Flaviano Miranda District Mangistrate & Collector South Add District Magistrate II Add District Magistrate III Expert Member, GCZMA Expert Member , GCZMA Scientist National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management , Chennai Expert Member, GCZMA Deputy Collector Revenue , Member of District Level Committee South 6.Dr Manik Mahapatra. Shrirang Jambhale, Snehal Prabhu.
At the outset District Magistrate , South Goa announced that Public Consultation for the Draft CZMP, 2011 will commence with presentation in local language explaining the Draft CZMP .
The District Magistrate welcomed all the speakers and participants who had registered at 5.00 pm till 06/03/2021 by submitting their physical application and online application either to Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority North Goa or to District Magistrate South Goa.
The District Magistrate South explained that the present public hearing is for obtaining views and suggestions and representation for finalization of draft CZMP for state of Goa in terms of Goa Coastal Regulation Zone notification 2011.It is also informed that 86 people registered themselves as a speaker and 70 have registered themselves as participants for this hearing.
It was further informed that public hearing would be started with detailed presentation of Draft Coastal Zone Management on screen which was placed in the stage and the translation of the same would be given in local language ie in konkani by Prof. Dr.Bhushan Bhave .
Accordingly Dr. Manik Mahapatra , Scientist National Centre for Sustainable , Coastal Management Chennai began the presentation however all participants and speakers attending objected to the presentation and even objected to holding Public Consultation, calling it a private hearing as the number of participants had been restricted to only 150.
They submitted that a hearing conducted only for 150 participants could no way can be termed as public consultation and claimed that all affected people of coastal area and fishing belt who had gathered outside Ravindra Bhavan Margao large numbers be allowed to attend the Consultation in the hall in order to have an effective Public Consultation .
Dr Manik Mahapatra attempted to explain that the CZMP maps were to be placed for Public Consultation in 1 : 25000 scales but the State of Goa had requested to provide the same in 1 : 4000 scale so that the general public could have a better clarity about the maps .
To this Avinash Tavares submitted that the procedure followed by the State Government is illegal as the Notification provides that 1 : 25000 topographic scale maps have to be approved first and thereafter the cadastral level maps be sent to the local bodies .
Thereafter the Speakers and Participants asked Dr Mahapatra to go to all the villages and explain the Draft CZMP maps. Dr. Mahapatra also stated that the maps were finalised in 2016 in consultation with all panchayats , which claim was rejected by all present panch members present for the hearing .
Since all the speakers and participants did not allow tos show the presentation to them, the District Magistrate South directed commencement of the say to be given by the registered speakers.
The name of the speaker was called and requested to start.
Thereafter all speakers and participants commonly agitated stating that no speaker would speak till the people outside the premises were allowed and given opportunity to speak.
Further the Speakers and Participants present in the hall requested for the following :
1. To postpone the hearing and explaining the Draft CZMP at Village and Municipality level and thereafter conduct the Public Consultation .
2. The Village Panchayats and the Municipal Councils had meticulously prepared Draft CZMP for their respective Village and Municipality in 2019 as directed by the State Government , however the Draft CZMP 2011 placed in Public Domain for consultation had not incorporated the plan submitted by the local bodies . This aspect needs to be explained at Village Municipality level with reasons .
3. Now since all the activities are normalised no restriction on the number of participants should be enforced and all those interested should be allowed to participate in the Public Consultation process
4. Since only 150 Speakers / Participants have been allowed to enter the premises , therefore it amounted to Personal hearing and not Public Consultation as envisaged by the Notification .
5. The CZMP maps have to be prepared locally and not by Agency outside the State . District Magistrate South explained that this Public Consultation was carried out as per the provision of the CRZ , Notification , 2011.
Those present may first listen to the presentation and thereafter participate in the Consultation and all their objections and suggestions would be recorded and duly minuted .
The Speakers and Participants continued to insist that the plan should be explained at the Village / Municipality level .
Olencio D Simoes informed that he represents the Goencho Ramponkarcho Ekvott a Registered society which represents the Fishing Community At the outset he claimed that present public hearing was in violation of the norms fixed for public hearing .
He requested that many representative of the Fisheries Community were outside the premises and should be allowed to participate in the Public Consultation.
He said there are 7 talukas and 115 fishing villages in South Goa and hence the Public Consultation should be carried out at Village / Municipality level and not at District level .
The citizen and the community were bound to protect the environment and livelihood .
He said the Fishing community comes from weaker section of the society and are not conversant with the English language . Hence the plan and notices had to be in the local language .
The present process is favourable to the affluent communities having all facilities and understanding of computers and IT . He also relied on a judgement of the Hon High Court of Madras where they directed that in view of the present COVID, 19 Pandemic the locals should also be provided transportation . He relied on Article 21 , 48 and 51 of the Constitution of India and requested that the Public Consultation should be postponed .
Churchill Alemao , MLA of Benaulim demanded that the draft CZMP maps should be explained at the Village / Municipality level and all the coastal stake holders should be allowed to participate in the Public Consultation and that the present Public Consultation should be postponed .
Vijay Sardessai , MLA of Fatorda alleged that by conducting the Public Consultation and not permitting those waiting outside the premises to participate in the Consultation is mockery of process .
He requested that the Public Consultation should be conducted outside where the public was present . He also said the public hearing as a farce by not allowing actual public to speak .
Aleixo Reginaldo , MLA Curtorim alleged that the convention of Communidade was postponed as there was election code of conduct for Municipality which was scheduled today , whereas the Public Consultation for the Draft CZMP 2011 was allowed to be conducted .
He further observed that the local Village Panchayats had submitted their Draft CZMP which had not be incorporated in the Draft CZMP 2011 placed in Public Domain . He said that the Public Consultation should be conducted on open ground where all the citizens of the Coastal areas can participate in the Public Consultation District Magistrate South informed that as per information provided by department they have sought the NOC for public notice regarding the public hearing from the Goa State Election Commission .
All participants / speakers unanimously shouted that it is their unanimous consensus demand that no speakers would speak in today’s hearing , they also claimed that if any of the speakers wanted to speak let them raise their hands to which none of the speaker shown their willingness by raising their hands . The District Magistrate continued calling the names of the speakers after waiting 2 to 5 minutes after call of each speaker .
Thereafter the District Magistrate thereafter called the names of all the speakers to come forward and speak on the objections and suggestions .
However none of the speakers came forward and all speakers and Participants demanded that the Public Consultation should be stopped and postponed with immediate effect .
Digambar Kamat , Leader of Opposition stated that Public Consultation could not be conducted without the participation of Public . In the present instance restriction had been imposed and only those who have registered have been allowed for the Public Consultation .
Many effected citizens are not conversant with the computers and IT and hence opportunity should be provided to all the strata of the society . The District Magistrate South informed that today’s public hearing included two types of speakers i.e speakers who have registered as speaker to physically remain present and give their say and other category was the speakers who has registered to be speaker in virtual mode .
They had been provided with a link for virtual participation and they could join till 5.00 pm . Hence the proceeding and minutes would be finalised after 5.00 pm and meeting will be concluded after reading of the minutes and also reading out the same in Konkani language .
It was also informed that 86 no of speakers were registered out of which 53 no of speakers have entered the hall and out of 70 number of participants only 42 no of participants entered the hall as per record maintained at entry desk . At the venue 10 number of written representation were received .
The minutes were finalised and read out in Konkani and English to all present in the auditorium The public hearing concluded at 17.10 hours .
