The Hindu : Karnataka News : GBA to approach court over Goa Regional Plan

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Thursday, Jun 23, 2011
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Karnataka

Karnataka

GBA to approach court over Goa Regional Plan

Special Correspondent

PANAJI: The Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) at a “structured meeting” with State government officials on Tuesday warned that it would have no option but

to approach court or agitate if the government did not fulfil its demands to implement “participative process” in the formation of the Goa Regional Plan 2021.

Representatives of the GBA put forward its various grievances pertaining to Goa Regional Plan 2021(RP2021) at the “structured meeting” with heads of various government departments held at the State secretariat here.

The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava and attended by the Secretary, Finance and Special Secretary for Forests, M. Balkrishnan, officiating Chief Town Planner S. T. Puttaraju, Chief Conservator of Forests and GBA delegation led by Sabina Martins had secretary Reboni Saha, treasurer Anand Madgavkar, joint secretary Miguel Braganza, core group members Claude Alvares and associates, including Solano da Silva, Francis Rodrigues, Joao Philip Pereira, Zarina da Cunha, Percy Fernandes, Franky, Carmen Miranda, and Xavier Fernandes.

Raising the case of Cansaulim village of south Goa, the representatives of GBA pointed out that there was confusion on which authority had the final say in issuing licences, as neither the panchayat nor planning and development authority (PDA) had jurisdiction.

On keeping plans open before notification, GBA reiterated its grievance that TCP Department had issued an order in October 2008 to keep the taluk plans open for 30 days but that the order was not being followed.

“The order has not been followed while finalising five taluk plans released,” said Ms. Martins stating that it amounted to mockery of participative process in formation of RP2021.

The GBA representatives wanted to know if the government would act or the people should approach the court or agitate.

In response to GBA demands and questions on various inclusions in the

newly notified plans, Town and Country Planning Department, (TCP) agreed to make public whose suggestions they had accepted. TCP also assured that in future all stakeholders would be called before finalising the plans.

TCP officials said that some action had been taken on points such as curbing irregularities, including setting up of “Flying Squads” to check hill-cutting and land filling without permission under Section 17-A of Goa, Daman & Diu TCP Act, 1974.

The GBA representative also protested that rampant constructions were taking place in different villages in violation of norms.

Some objections were raised about “eco-tourism” areas marked in the proposed RP2021 being misused by builders.

Mr. Francisco from Terakol in Pernem taluk pointed out that despite two gram sabha resolutions opposing golf course, the plan showed it on the agricultural tenanted land.

Ms. Percy Fernandes Kanaguinim, Betul from south Goa, pointed out that though the government had cancelled Special Economic Zone (SEZ) projects, the land was shown as acquired land.

Some village representatives alleged that micro industrial zones were marked in panchayat areas without taking panchayat members into confidence.

The GBA pointed out that the plan had not been finalised and before it was implemented it would be time to revisit the plan in 2012 to incorporate thrust areas of Five Year Plan.

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