PANAJI: With pressure mounting on the Government to scrap the State Regional Plan 2011, Deputy Chief Minister Wilfred de Souza, a member of the Nationalist Congress Party, which is a partner in the coalition, has sought formation of a committee of experts to draft a new plan.

Mr. de Souza, who holds the Environment portfolio, sought to disassociate himself from the controversial plan on the plea that it was passed by the State Cabinet by obtaining signatures on a circulated note. "When it is done that way, you do not get a chance to put forward your views," said Mr. de Souza.

Goa Bachav Abhiyan (GBA) has opposed the plan stating that it would lead to reckless land conversions at the cost of forest.

"Everything (illegalities and violations of environmental norms) stems from the regional plan. We are against it right from the beginning. My party (NCP) has openly demanded that it be scrapped and a fresh process should be set into motion to draft a regional plan by appointing a committee including architects, engineers and environmentalists to redo the whole plan. Till the new plan came into force, you can go by the 2001 regional plan," Mr. de Souza said.

Meanwhile, as the controversy about the regional plan is gaining momentum, people and activists from different parts of the State are bringing to light more illegalities relating to land development.

Unveiling his plans to tackle illegal levelling of hills and other coastal violations, Mr. de Souza said illegal constructions that posed a threat to coastal environment would take action under the Environment Protection Act.

The Deputy Chief Minister told presspersons that he had officially written to the Coastal Regulation Zone Management Authority (CRZMA) accusing the Director of Mines colluding with the Administrator of Communidade of Calangute in north coastal and allowing a private builder to mine.

The children's park (jogger's park) under construction at Caranzalem near here has also been mired in controversy.

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