Goa’s coastline is an ecologically sensitive area and needs to be protected by controlling and guarding against unscrupulous exploitation, Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) on Monday. They submitted their objections on the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) and sought a public hearing of the mapping to raise their issues.
“The Goa government does not feel it important to consult the fishing community and its legitimate representatives, while formulating the most important piece of policy, meant to protect the coastal lands and secure our livelihoods,” GRE general secretary, Olencio Simoes said . Goa has the smallest coastline of 105km and a land mass of 3,704 sqkm with many intervening tidal rivers with more than 40 estuarine, eight marine and about 90 riverine islands.
GRE pointed out that fishermen’s huts, fishing zones up to 12 nautical miles, demarcation of fish landings and canoe parking, net mending area, fish breeding area, beach stretches, among other aspects crucial for the fishermen must be highlighted in the plan. They demanded that port limits and aquaculture be deleted in all fishing villages. In their letter, GRE pointed also out that public participation in regulatory decision-making is crucial in making environmental governance more robust and better informed.
“Public hearing acts as a check on the arbitrary exercise of powers, especially since it seeks to hear those who could be affected by changes in the eco-system. It thereby embodies the fundamental rule of fair procedure,” GRE said. They also pointed out that the change of venue from the Taleigao Community hall to Kala Academy, Campal just two days prior to the public hearing was a violation of the EIA notification 2006 which has laid down clear procedure to conduct a public hearing in Appendix IV.