THE GOAN NETWORK
OLD GOA
A group of locals from Old Goa have shot off a petition to panchayat authorities, with a copy to the BDO, demanding an urgent gram sabha to discuss on the issue of inclusion of Old Goa areas in the Greater Panaji PDA (GPPDA) and also on the Bainguinim garbage treatment plant.
A local, Glean Cabral, has taken the lead in demanding the urgent gram sabha, with over hundred villagers signing the petition.
In the letter, the villagers state, “We desire to discuss on the following issue mentioned below on urgent basis: Inclusion of the area of Se Old Goa village panchayat in the Greater Panaji PDA and discussion of garbage treatment plant at Bainguinim.”
Meanwhile, Cabral has also petitioned the Chief Town Planner and the TCP minister with a copy to the chief minister, chief secretary, Archives and Archaeology Director, ASI Superintending Archaeologist, GPPDA member secretary and Old Goa sarpanch.
In his petition, Cabral has taken objection to the inclusion of parts of Old Goa in the GPPDA, terming it an undemocratic exercise and unconstitutional.
Further, Cabral has expressed fears that the heritage monuments of Old Goa will be destroyed if areas within vicinity of the monuments are included in GPPDA.
“The proposed ODP will lead to higher densities of housing within a few hundred metres of the monuments. The concretisation of Kadamba Plateau will reduce surface area for percolation of rainwater. Topographical study shows that the water will accumulate in the vicinity of Bom Jesus Basilica thereby damaging it further,” Cabral opined.
“Keeping in mind the existing population of Se Old Goa VP and the constraints implied by various regulated zones, such a planning area is not required,” he added.
Cabral has further pointed out that GPPDA is not the suitable agency for Old Goa’s development as he has alleged that the PDA has introduced ‘special’ residential and commercial land use zones, with FAR of 2 and 3 respectively, without statistical and scientific justification for the same.
“Old Goa is a village which reflects the history and culture of Goa. If this planning area is to be notified and an ‘anti-people’ ODP prepared by the GPPDA at the behest of private developers, this will spell the end of Old Goa and everything sacred and Goan that it preserves,” said Cabral.
He has urged the TCP Board to heed to suggestions of its own Conservation Committee, which had discussed the potential of drawing a heritage-centric master plan for Old Goa.
