the goan I network
VASCO
Goencho Avaaz co-convenor Capt Viriato Fernandes on Friday dismissed the invite to giving any written evidence to the committee appointed by the TCP department on grounds that the organisation had already rejected the committee in the first place.
It may be recalled that the five-member committee set up to operationalise the Regional Plan 2021 held its first meeting on Thursday, with the committee resolving to send notices to the speakers of the Goencho Avaaz to come forward with specific details on ‘land conversion fraud’, as alleged by them at a massive rally against the Regional Plan 2021 in Margao.
“As mentioned earlier, we have already completely rejected the committee appointed by the TCP department,” said Capt. Fernandes, while speaking to The Goan along the sidelines of a rally at Cansaulim.
“We have accused the TCP minister himself and so, how can he appoint a committee? When we have rejected the committee, where is the question of submitting written evidence to them?”
“If we give them evidence, they will say all is fine. In the first place, we were not supposed to expose the illegalities, it was their job. Now that we have highlighted the issues, they are shamelessly asking us for evidence and this amounts to a breakdown of machinery,” he added.
The five-member committee wants the conveners of the meeting to submit allegations in writing regarding ‘illegalities’ by politicians, individuals or institution on the issue of conversions or change in zones to be substantiated by necessary documentary evidence, supporting documents for the committee to scrutinize to be submitted before May 11.
Incidentally, the five-member committee has decided that on receipt of details by Goencho Avaaz, the committee will conduct a necessary study and take appropriate decisions case wise and submit its report to the government for necessary action.
