What was the government and successive TCP ministers doing if 20 lakh square metres of orchard land has been illegally converted in the state? If TCP's internal investigation has found that 20 lakh square metres of orchard land has been illegally converted, why is the government silent even now? There cannot be such wholesale conversion without collusion between real estate sharks and those at the Town and Country Planning Department. Is the TCP minister scared that an investigation may only see skeletons tumbling out of his own department's cupboard, or by saying so now, is Sardesai trying to point an accusing finger at former TCP minister and the chief town planner?
In the name of development, the TCP Board has approved two new PDAs in North Goa. It says that they are trying to have planned areas for growing urbanised zones. It's now an open secret that the creation of two new PDAs is only to accommodate Babush Monserrate, the Taleigao strongman, who walked away from the Panaji by-poll battlefield leaving it open for Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. For his sacrifice, there is this Greater Panjim PDA which is carved out of Taleigao, Bambolim and Kadamba plateau as a reward. The Mopa PDA will have Mopa airport and surrounding areas, while the NGPDA will have under its jurisdiction Panaji, Mapusa, Calangute-Candolim and surprisingly Parra and Arpora. Development, again.
Interestingly, and very selectively, the voice of Curca gram sabha is being heard. The TCP minister has kept Curca out of the Greater Panaji ODP because he says the gram sabha demanded it. This comes against the backdrop where cries of over 50 gram sabhas across the State objecting to coal and river plans have fallen on deaf ears. Where Goenkarponn was sidelined and ‘outsider-ponn' was a new jargon. And when did Sardesai started taking the demands of opposition MLAs seriously? He may have displayed letters from two Congress MLAs -- Francisco Silveira of San André and Antonio Fernandes of Santa Cruz -- both opposition Congress MLAs seeking inclusion of Bambolim in PDA, but is that the reason why the government was compelled to go ahead?
The Kadamba plateau has been the hub of development where all the real estate money is stacking up, so also are the Bambolim and Taleigao plateaus. Development is only an acronym used while political deals are being settled in the background. Maintaining the demography of the villages and respecting the sentiments and concerns of the villagers is empty talk aimed to pacify the villagers and force them into believing that their place will not be bulldozed.
The TCP board gave a sugar-coating to its plans and decided to waive the infrastructure tax for single dwelling units. Sardesai said this move is "to show our commitment and remain committed to the common man". For the record, who are these people that are paying infrastructure tax? If something has to be done for the common man, it is to set up transparent and corruption-free systems so that Goans don't have to shell out money under the table to get their files cleared. Can the TCP minister clean up the system and show commitment here?
In the name of development, the TCP Board has approved two new PDAs in North Goa. It says that they are trying to have planned areas for growing urbanised zones. It's now an open secret that the creation of two new PDAs is only to accommodate Babush Monserrate, the Taleigao strongman, who walked away from the Panaji by-poll battlefield leaving it open for Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. For his sacrifice, there is this Greater Panjim PDA which is carved out of Taleigao, Bambolim and Kadamba plateau as a reward. The Mopa PDA will have Mopa airport and surrounding areas, while the NGPDA will have under its jurisdiction Panaji, Mapusa, Calangute-Candolim and surprisingly Parra and Arpora. Development, again.
Interestingly, and very selectively, the voice of Curca gram sabha is being heard. The TCP minister has kept Curca out of the Greater Panaji ODP because he says the gram sabha demanded it. This comes against the backdrop where cries of over 50 gram sabhas across the State objecting to coal and river plans have fallen on deaf ears. Where Goenkarponn was sidelined and ‘outsider-ponn' was a new jargon. And when did Sardesai started taking the demands of opposition MLAs seriously? He may have displayed letters from two Congress MLAs -- Francisco Silveira of San André and Antonio Fernandes of Santa Cruz -- both opposition Congress MLAs seeking inclusion of Bambolim in PDA, but is that the reason why the government was compelled to go ahead?
The Kadamba plateau has been the hub of development where all the real estate money is stacking up, so also are the Bambolim and Taleigao plateaus. Development is only an acronym used while political deals are being settled in the background. Maintaining the demography of the villages and respecting the sentiments and concerns of the villagers is empty talk aimed to pacify the villagers and force them into believing that their place will not be bulldozed.
The TCP board gave a sugar-coating to its plans and decided to waive the infrastructure tax for single dwelling units. Sardesai said this move is "to show our commitment and remain committed to the common man". For the record, who are these people that are paying infrastructure tax? If something has to be done for the common man, it is to set up transparent and corruption-free systems so that Goans don't have to shell out money under the table to get their files cleared. Can the TCP minister clean up the system and show commitment here?
