Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai on Saturday said that a Goa-based agency should be roped in to prepare new draft coastal management plan for the state.
Speaking to media persons in Fatorda on the sidelines of a function, Sardesai said the then Parrikar government had paid Rs 86 lakh more to the Chennai-based National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management for visits to various locations in the state so as to prepare a reliable draft CZMP.
“But still the agency has come out with a flaw-ridden and unrealistic plan.  This has happened because the plan was not prepared by Goan agencies,” the minister asserted.
Holding out on the controversial draft CZMP, Sardesai said, “I empathise with people’s sentiments.  People were not consulted while preparing the plan, which is full of inaccuracies… there are notified 180 sq km khazan lands, but the draft coastal zone management plan has shown only 45 sq km (of khazan lands).”
Sardesai recalled that when former chief minister Manohar Parrikar  had found faults in the  CZMP he  had told the agency to  show  the  areas on a bigger scale. Moreover Parrikar had paid Rs 86 lakh more to the agency for field visits.
The NCSCM had been entrusted with preparing the plan  by the Centre, he said, adding that a plan for the state should be prepared by Goans.
He claimed that he was the first minister to oppose the  CZMP  despite being part of the government.
The draft CZMP prepared by the NCSCM was rejected by the state government after it was vehemently opposed by people over various glaring  mistakes.