the goan I network
PANAJI
Sarpanchas of Siridao-Pale and St Cruz on Saturday urged TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai to pay heed to the villager’s demand for denotification of the Greater Panaji PDA.
St Cruz sarpanch Mariano Araujo said that the panchayat body had initially supported the PDA in the hope that it would accelerate development. “But when consulted, the gram sabha opposed the idea. Gram sabha’s resolution was forwarded in a timely manner to the government. Yet, the government has forced the PDA upon us,” Araujo stated.
Elected representatives from the panchayats of Curca-Telaulim-Bambolim, Goa Velha, Siridao-Pale, Mandur-Azoshim, Agassaim, St Cruz, Merces and Chimbel along with their MLAs and former MLA Victoria Fernandes recently met TCP Minister Sardesai and submitted a memorandum. “Back then, Vijai had assured us that he would denotify the PDA. He should act accordingly at the upcoming TCP Board meeting,” Araujo said.
Siridao-Pale sarpanch Vasudev Cuncalienkar sought to point out that mismanagement of garbage and water woes have yet to be resolved in the village. “With PDA will come more settlers and the fabric of the village will crumble,” he argued.
However, only two out of the 10 panchayats, seven of which fall in St Andre constituency and three in St Cruz, remained present along with activists Arthur D’Souza and Rama Canconkar.
“If the PDA isn’t denotified, all sarpanchas will unite and along with the villagers and MLAs, come on to the roads. If they delay the meeting, it will only give us more time to garner support and the agitation will spread,” D’Souza warned.
Canconkar questioned the logic behind the “unconstitutional” inclusion of these villages under the PDA. “When the notification was issued, it was done without consulting the villagers. For vertical development on Kadamba plateau, what report are they relying on? Which village panchayat has suggested this?” he asked.
Canconkar further demanded to know why the TCP Minister is eyeing the hills and fields of Tiswadi. “Has population increased only in Tiswadi? Why not have a Greater Salcete PDA?” he questioned.
