the goan I network
MAPUSA
Continuing to exert pressure against the proposed ODP and PDA in the coastal villages of North Goa, the villagers of Calangute have urged Town & Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardessai not to grant any approval to the ODP, which may come for endorsement before the TCP board.
“With personal interests of Calangute MLA, panchayat members, builders and developers in mind, large areas of land in the village have been converted for construction purpose and private projects,” the villagers said in a letter, citing illegalities in the draft outline development plan (ODP) of Calangute and Candolim 2025.
In a 5-page letter addressed to the Chief Minister including the TCP minister and member secretary of TCP board, the locals appealed to them protect the interests of the people as well as provisions of the Constitution of India and the Goa Panchayat Raj Act.
Among the locals who signed the petition letter included former sarpanch
Joseph Sequeira and former panch member Clotilda
Braganza.
The villagers said that the Calangute MLA, who is the chairman of NGPDA besides having a stake in hospitality/hotel and development of land, also owns properties in Calangute and Candolim.
They alleged that he has granted permissions to builders/developers by illegally putting the draft ODP into operation, which was now stayed by the High Court.
“The MLA has properties under survey no 146/1,146/2, 148/2, 319/2, 3,4,5,7 and 12, 244/21, 320/2,4,5, 322/5,6 and 238/21 which are all shown as C-3 commercial zone in Calangute. He also has some properties in Candolim,” they alleged.
They also alleged that some of his partners have properties in both the villagers, which were shown as settlement and commercial in the draft ODP. They further alleged that similar favours were fulfilled to other builders and developers by NGPDA.
The villagers said all their attempts to engage with the panchayat, TCP department and other authorities on the subject of ODP have failed.
“Despite several requests, the Calangute panchayat has not held any special gram sabha or meeting to discuss the PDA/ODP issue,” the letter said.
The letter said the NGPDA chairman and the member secretary have been trying to mislead the people of Calangute stating that all their unauthorized structures will be regularized.
Quoting the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution and sections 238 and 239 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, the letter said the development plan should be made by the panchayat.
“The development plan has to be first prepared by the panchayat and then sent to District Level Committee and later to the government,” the villagers said.
They said NGPDA has prepared the draft ODP of Calangute-Candolim 2025 illegally without considering the wishes of the people.
They also said that Calangute panchayat had earlier filed a writ petition challenging the draft ODP but the new panchayat has withdrawn it without any reason.
They further said that another PIL filed by residents
of Candolim against the ODP has been pending before the High Court.
