OLD GOA
The Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) has warned of a bigger agitation if the TCP amendment is not withdrawn even as its MLA Viresh Borkar and RGP submitted individual objections to the amendment along with over 5,000 objections from its supporters.
The warning was issued after RGP protested outside the TCP office on Friday in which over 400 protestors from different parts of the State participated.
Apart from the protestors filing their individual objections to the TCP Amendment, various RGP leaders submitted hordes of objections on behalf of their supporters. At the end of the day, over 5,000 objections were submitted.
Meanwhile, mindful of the protest, a large police force was stationed outside the building housing the TCP office. Both the entrances to the building were blocked by the police so as not to allow protestors from entering the building.
However, the police allowed only a handful of persons to enter the building which included MLA Viresh Borkar, RGP supremo Manoj Parab and others, who insisted that they want to discuss the issue with the Chief Town Planner (CTP) before they begin the process of submitting objections.
After the meeting got over, MLA Borkar criticised the TCP department for coming out with the amendment without consulting the people.
“When I questioned the same to the CTP James Mathew, he informed that it is just a draft. If that is so, then how come golf companies have applied for golf courses in Curca?” Borkar posed while expressing doubts that the amendment is brought keeping in mind the interests of such companies.
The MLA further hit out at the TCP department for issuing technical clearances to projects blindly, without taking into account the ramifications it would have on infrastructural facilities like power, water, roads, etc.
“In Goa, villages lack power, water, roads and other facilities. But the TCP issues licences without taking into account these facts and then the people are forced to go to the courts to stall the projects,” Borkar informed while stating that authorities from PWD, Electricity department and panchayats blame the TCP department for giving clearances to projects, which forces them to grant licences.
Borkar further issued a warning that if the amendment is not withdrawn, then the Revolutionary Goans will hold bigger agitations in the future.
The protestors were armed with placards and shouted slogans about the need to save the land of Goa for future generations.
Planning by local bodies, not TCP officials, Parab demands
OLD GOA:
RGP supremo Manoj Parab said they have clearly outlined in the objections how the amendment would prove detrimental to Goa and Goans as it allows projects like golf courses, film cities, film studios, yoga and meditation centres, constructions in low-lying areas, regularization of structures over 500 metres, etc.
He further said that the planning has to be done by the local authorities as per the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution and not by the TCP officials sitting in their offices.
“This plan has to go to the panchayats where the people should decide what is best for them and their villages,” Parab demanded.
