Goa seeks protection of traditional fishermen houses Panaji (PTI): The Goa government on Thursday said that it will ask Centre for providing protection to the houses and worksheds of traditional fishermen who fear to face the axe under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Act.
The state will rope in to constitutional experts like Fali Nariman and Sham Diwan to represent a case before the Centre, Chief Minister Digamber Kamat said. "Government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the traditional fishermen and others will be given justice," he told reporters here. The threat to the traditional structures had blown into a major issue following a High Court order asking government to demolish the structures which were constructed after 1991. Consequently, the fishermen body, Goenchya Ramponkaracho Ekvott,had asked the CM to protect them. "As the CRZ is a central law, we will petition to the Union Government seeking their help to protect these occupants," Mr. Kamat said. The occupants, however, have no document to prove that their houses existed before 1991. The Goa government will examine the possibility of working out solution at state level, he said. "We are in dialogue with the panchayats and are trying to make sure that all the structures constructed before 1991 are legalised," Mr. Kamat added. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200903191522.htm ~(^^)~ Avelino
