Members of the Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott and Other Coastal People’s Organizations headed by Matanhy Saldanha, have declared a
state-wide agitation from July 24 to protest the state government’s failure to protect structures falling in the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ).
The Digambar Kamat government has failed to stand by its manifesto which had assured that all efforts would be made to save the structures from demolition, the organizations stated. At a press conference held in Panaji on Friday, members said that during the parliamentary election campaign, Kamat had assured the coastal residents that he would see that 8500 houses that have recieved demolition notices for falling within 200 m from the high tide line would be saved.
“This statement of the chief minister was further reinforced by chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Sonia Gandhi at a Congress rally held in Margao. It was also promised that houses of the coastal people of Goa falling within 200 m of the high tide line will not be demolished,” said Saldanha.
He said that conveniently, after the parliamentary elections, Kamat has done a volta face stating that the government has nothing to do with the demolition of the houses as it is an issue to be settled between the court and the concerned panchayats. “This statement does not auger well for the government, for panchayats are not independent bodies. They are under the control of the government,” said Saldanha.
Agnelo Fernandes of the GRE and Other Coastal People’s Organizations said that the panels question as to how the government can choose to ignore this crisis created basically by those panchayat members who do not function as per the law but operate according to the diktats of the ruling MLA and, in most cases, act as party workers during elections. ”More importantly, the members want to know how promises made publicly and before the press during the parliamentary election campaign that the CRZ issues would be solved, can be forgotten so soon after the elections and brushed aside with an irresponsible statement made by the chief minister,” Fernandes said.
The organizations have now demanded that the chief minister impress upon the union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to bring in a Goa specific amendment to the CRZ notification, 1991 and save 8500 houses belonging to coastal residents, just as there are already 11 amendments to the CRZ notification, 1991 which have been brought in to protect the individual interest of different states.
As a result, the GRE and Other Coastal People’s Organization have decided to launch an agitation from July 24 throughout Goa. Members reiterated that they are forced to take this decision as the state government has failed to keep its promise to solve the CRZ issue.
Courtesy: TOI
