the goan I network
MAPUSA
Exhorting locals not to fall prey to a misinformation campaign launched by his opponents, Deputy Speaker and Calangute MLA, Michael Lobo on Saturday assured that he and his government were committed to protecting the hills and fields of Calangute and other villages in his constituency.
“The RP 2021 prepared by then Congress government in 2011 had shown the BomViage hills in Calangute as settlement. In the new draft ODP plan of Calangute, we have re-classified the hills as green area,” Lobo said while addressing a news conference in his office in Calangute.
Interestingly, the local MLA’s assurance came just days ahead of an awareness rally in Calangute organized by villagers of Calangute-Candolim-Apora-Nagoa protesting against PDA, ODP and draft CRZ 2018.
Lobo disclosed that while preparing the land use map of Candolim-Calangute-Nagoa-Arpora, the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) has taken care that all the hills and fields were protected.
He said when farmers protested the new bypass road through the farmland, the government decided to cancel the bypass.
“We have removed the bypass road shown in the draft ODP bowing to people’s wishes. We are not doing anything against the wishes of the people,” he said.
Training his guns against the former Calangute MLA and former sarpanch, Lobo alleged that the then Congress government at the behest of the ex-MLA painted the regional plan orange converting hills into settlement.
“But we are changing that and helping to save these hills,” he said.
He alleged that Delhites built hotels in Calangute with the help of former sarpanch, Joseph Sequeira and former MLA Agnelo Fernandes.
The Calangute MLA said the government has put around 15,000 sq mt of land close to the beach in Candolim for public use which was being usurped by the former MLA. “In another decision, a piece of land which was given to an hotelier has been reversed by this government,” he added.
He said NGPDA has ensured that all local houses were reflected in the land use map prepared by the authority.
“If you have exceeded FAR, we will regularise them as is where is basis with a small fine and infrastructure charges,” he said.
