THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
A huge Calangute awareness rally on Monday sent out a clear message to the government: either mend ways and listen to the voice of people or be ready to be sent home in the next elections.
Over 1,000 residents of the coastal villages of Calangute, Candolim, Arpora and Nagao marched through the streets of Calangute demanding scraping of PDA, ODP and draft CRZ 2018 notification.
The rally saw the participation of school children, youth, nuns, the young and the old, which kicked off from St Alex church and wound through the main thoroughfare and culminated near the Dayanand Bandodkar statue at the entrance of the beach.
The rally was organized by Social Action Team of Calangute Parish in collaboration with Centre for Responsible Tourism and other parish associations. Other organizations and NGOs also took part in the rally.
Slamming the State government’s dictatorial ways, convenor of Goenkars Against PDA Arthuro D’Souza said the ruling dispensation was not concerned about the people, but only worried about the affluent class.
“We have been yelling slogans “ amkam PDA naka, amkam CRZ 2018 naka. But I feel we do not want this government. This government is not doing anything for the common man. This government is only helping the rich to grow richer and push the poor further down,” D’Souza said.
The convenor of Goenkars Against PDA informed that in 2014, the central government under then Union Minister of Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu had clearly stated that any programme of urban development would be carried out with people’s participation, including the local bodies.
“The Goa government wants to destroy what was decided by the Centre in 2014. We will not allow this to happen and the agitation started by us will also be ended by us,” he said.
Warning the TCP minister, he said: “What you are doing is against the people and if you want to do it your way, we will decide your future in the election,” D’Souza said.
He further said that the way police personnel was coordinating the rally, it appeared that the administration was with the people.
“Goans have come out to support us and it appears the administration has also come forward to support our cause. And the way the police coordinated the rally it clearly indicates,” he said to a loud applause from the gathering.
Activist, Rama Kankonkar said the planners had failed to understand the ground reality and PDA and ODP plans were drawn by sitting in the AC offices.
He warned the gathering not to fall prey to politicians who were out to fool the Goans.
“Political parties will come and go but once Goenkarponn is lost, we will never be able to get it back. We will fight. We are ready to give our lives for Goem,” Kankonkar said.
Fr Polly Lobo, Parish Priest of St Alex Church, Calangute, who was the main force behind the rally spoke how Calangute was turning into another Baina with the rise in prostitution in the coastal village.
A memorandum pledging to protect people, especially women, children, youth, seniors, against evils plaguing the village including prostitution and drugs was signed by all those present at the rally.
