PANAJI: After dismissing Goa Foundation’s review application praying for time limit of six months, instead of the August 31 deadline, to finalise the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for Goa, the NGT is set to hear another petition filed by Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) and Goencho Ekvott for postponement of Thursday’s CZMP hearings in North and South Goa.
They are seeking postponement on grounds that the fisheries planning committee, constituted by the department of environment and climate change in March, has not completed the process of identification of fishermen’s houses to be included in the draft comprehensive plan for the fishing community living in CRZ areas. This was scheduled to be completed within 60 days.
GRE and Goencho Ekvott have raised apprehension that the committee’s report will not have legal sanctity if it is completed after the public hearing is over.
The committee’s tenure was extended to September 30, 2021 since, due to the election code of conduct, the department couldn’t tender documents to appoint the agency to assist the committee and therefore, it hasn’t completed the process of identifying fishermen’s houses as per the gazetted order.
The associations have also stated that they were not able to meet people due to lockdown restrictions and are also seeking postponement on grounds that a large section of the fishing community has been affected by Covid and that some are not physically fit to attend the meetings on Thursday.
GRE general secretary Olencio Simoes said 95% of houses of the fishing community in CRZ areas have not yet been regularised since 1991.
