MAPUSA
The Aldona villagers on Sunday unanimously resolved to seek the complete repeal of Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, 1974, while reiterating its opposition to all land-use changes proposed under the controversial provision in the village.
The resolution, passed during the gram sabha meeting, authorises the Aldona panchayat to write to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department urging that Section 39A be scrapped in its entirety.
The proposal was moved by gram sabha member Nelson Figueiredo, who expressed concern over the inclusion of already protected areas such as orchards, rivers, nullahs, mangroves, salt pans, fish farms and forests under the "no development zone" category.
"I have moved a proposal to repeal Section 39A because this is not merely about converting orchard land or other land uses into settlement zones. It also covers areas like paddy fields, lakes, ponds and bundhs that are already protected under various laws such as the Coastal Regulation Zone and eco-sensitive area regulations. Why is there a need to again designate them as no development zones? There appears to be something unclear and it is not being presented transparently," Figueiredo said.
The proposal was put to vote and received unanimous support from the gram sabha.
The gram sabha also unanimously opposed the proposed conversion of orchard land into settlement in Survey No 330/13 at Gavar in Aldona after villager Thomas Tavares raised objections.
Tavares, along with Cosme Fernandes and other villagers, urged the Sarpanch to reject the conversion proposal and file objections to every survey number notified by the TCP department for zone changes under Section 39A.
They also requested that copies of the objections be displayed on the panchayat notice board after being submitted to the Chief Town Planner within the stipulated 30-day period.
Sarpanch Ashwin D'Souza agreed to oppose the proposed zone changes and informed the gram sabha that, acting on an earlier resolution, the panchayat had already refused permission for a project involving a swimming pool in the village.
The meeting also discussed transparency in construction activities, with villagers demanding strict enforcement of mandatory display boards at construction sites and public display of construction licences and NOCs at the panchayat office.
They sought stringent penalties, including a fine amounting to five per cent of the project cost, against builders who fail to display project details.
Separately, a six-member committee, including the panchayat secretary, was constituted to address the stray dog menace in accordance with Supreme Court directions.
