MAPUSA
Objecting to the outline development (ODP) 2025 for Calangute, the locals unanimously resolved to reject the ODP in the present form and further gave a green signal to the village panchayat to challenge the plan in the High Court.
The villagers at an extra-ordinary gram sabha on Sunday also slammed the Town & Country Planning (TCP) department for failing to take them into confidence while drawing the plan and converting the hills in the village into settlement zones at the behest of the builders.
“The ODP has to be prepared by the villagers. The local residents have to decide what infrastructure they want in the village. In this case nobody came to us to ask about the development plan. This ODP has been prepared by sitting in the office,” said Premanand Diukar, a resident of Calangute.
He said the fields and hills in the village have been painted red and shown as settlement zones to suit a certain class of people.
“We do not want massive and haphazard development. We want sustainable development. The village still does not have basic requirements like proper water supply, electricity and roads and they want to bring multi-dwelling projects. This is a destructive ODP. It’s not in the interest of the village,” Diukar said.
Another villager, Benedict Lobo described how the entire hill of Bom Viage and Baga were converted into settlement zones in the interest of builders.
“After some time there will be massive constructions on these hills. The panchayat can explore the possibility of making a representation to the TCP and other departments to remove these areas from settlement,” Lobo suggested.
A local Edward suggested giving the locals a week’s time to come forward with objections/suggestions on the ODP.
Calangute sarpanch, Joseph Sequeira sought to remind the gram sabha that last year too people had similarly resolved to oppose the ODP 2025 and had asked the panchayat to write to various departments to rectify, redraw the plan and bring the guilty to book for committing illegalities in the ODP.
“The pancahayat had written to the ACB, director of vigilance and the chief secretary. While the ACB has given a clean chit to the TCP, the CS has still not responded to our letter,” Sequeira said.
He said there was no point in indulging in blame games and stressed on the need to come together and reject the ODP.
“We are ready to file a petition in the High Court if people want. We will file a case in such a way that no construction licences can be issued. We want to save whatever is left in Calangute now,” the sarpanch said.
The gram sabha in one voice decided that the panchayat should challenge the ODP in the High Court.
