the goan I network
MARGAO
Amidst an unprecedented congregation of people at the historic Lohia Maidan here on Friday, Goencho Avaaz unveiled the names of 14 politicians, including Ministers and MLAs, cutting across party lines, besides nine companies, who have allegedly benefitted out of the Regional Plan 2021.
Thousands of people cried foul as names of politicians and companies were read out by young activist Manoj Parab, as he announced that the list unveiled on Friday is just a trailer, promising to unveil more names at meetings planned across the State.
Amongst the Ministers and MLAs figuring in the list, who have allegedly benefited from RP21, are TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and MLA Pratapsing Rane, MLAs Digambar Kamat, Glen Ticlo, Wilfred D’Sa, Luizinho Faleiro, Alina Saldanha, Nilesh Cabral, Francis Silveira, former MLAs Deepak Dhavlikar, Naresh Sawal and the Deshprabhu family.
Goencho Avaaz claimed that a company Metric Ventures belonging to TCP Minister had benefited in a low lying field, gayro (pond). The organization further claimed Sardesai and Kennedy Alemao have also benefited of settlement in a CRZ area at Velsao village.
Manoj claimed that large forested area in the name of Power Minister, Pandurang Madkaikar has been shown as settlement at Gandaulim, and a green area belonging to Margao MLA and former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat at Agonda village.
He pointed out that water bodies and bandh in the riverine island at Cavelossim belonging to Luizinho Faleiro’s son has been shown as settlement in Cavelossim village.
BJP MLAs Alina Saldanha, Nilesh Cabral and Glen Ticlo were also named as beneficiaries by Goencho Avaaz at the Lohia Maidan. It was alleged that land at Cansaulim in NDZ within 200 meters in Alina Saldanha’s constituency has been shown as parking with a provision for 10 meter access road, with a future proposal for a hotel project. While green cover belonging to Glen Ticlo at Soccoro has been shown as settlement, Manjo also brought MLA Nilesh Cabral’s land at Loutolim village under the Goencho Avaaz scanner.
It was alleged that Congress San Andre Francis Silveira property at Batim, including steep slopes has been show as general industrial, while former MLA Naresh Sawal’s property at Mulgao, a green cover shown as settlement.
The father-son duo of Pratapsing Rane and Vishwajit Rane were also names as being the beneficiaries of RP 21 with over five lakh square of and green land showed as settlement at Karapur.
The organisers claimed that Congress Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa has benefited of the RP21 with orchard land adjoining river Sal shown as settlement.
Former MLA and MGP President Deepak Dhavlikar was another politician, who they claimed benefitted immensely from the RP 21. It was alleged one lakh square meters of green corridor at Betora was shown as settlement in the plan. It was further alleged that the Deshprabhu family has benefited in Paliyem village with five lakh square meters of pristine coastal plateau shown as settlement.
During the Power point presentation by activist Abhijit Prabhudesai and Swapnesh Sherlekar with google maps, the Goencho Avaaz tried to drive home the point how the RP has shown lakhs of square meters of orchard, forests, coastal areas into settlement, raising questions whether the RP21 is in the interest of Goans or outsiders.
It was pointed out at the power point presentation that Salcete’s entire coastal belt right from Cavelossim to Majorda-Utorda-Calata has been painted red in the RP 2021, with Abhijit even saying the Baradi hillock at Velim, which plays host to the miraculous cross was not spared as an industrial zone.
Incidentally, many areas in and around Ponda were shown as industrial areas-cum-20-point program hosing areas, with the activists indicating that the industrial and housing zones have been shown in close proximity to accommodate the migrant population.
