the goan I network
MARGAO
Thousands of hands went up at the Lohia Maidan on Friday evening in support of a resolution called by Goencho Avaaz demanding the scrapping of the PDAs and ODPs and the de-notification of Plans as the organisers termed the Regional Plan 2021 as defunct.
The resolution stated that the Regional Plan 2021 is defunct since March 19, 2012 when the governor of Goa declared on the floor of the Assembly, in resonance with the demands made by the people of Goa, “my government will denotify the Regional Plan 2021 and a new Plan will be prepared in consultation with all stakeholders”.
The resolution further stated that PDAs and ODPs are against the interest of Goa and Goans and the authorities must be scrapped and the Plans must be denotified so that further speculation with land within urban areas is stopped immediately.
“After examining the results of intensive studies and detailed analysis carried out by concerned citizens, we have reached a consensual decision that the orders passed by the Chief Town Planner on June 4, 2012 stating that the restrictions of both the RP 2001 and RP 2021 will apply until a proper Regional Plan is prepared, is the proper interim measure, provided only individual family homes and village schools and hospitals are permitted during this period in Goa, including both urban and rural areas”, the resolution stated.
While demanding full implementation of the 73rd and 74th Amendments and incorporating it into the TCP Act, the meeting demanded that the government collect the baseline data regarding Goa,
Goans, the impact of past policies and economic activities and future challenges such as climate change on the environment and socio-economics of Goa and make them available to the gram sabhas and ward sabhas, who shall verify the data and then prepare the Regional Plan 2031, spatial plans and policies, for the villages and municipal areas of Goa.
On coal transportation, the meeting resolved that no coal transportation through Goa be allowed under any circumstance, to protect humanity against climate change and to protect the health of the residents of Goa from the disastrous impacts of air pollution due to coal transportation and proposed burning of coal in neighbouring parts of Karnataka and impact on fishing communities, rivers and fisheries of Goa.
The meeting also called for the removal of the six rivers of Goa included in the Schedule to the National Waterways Act, 2016 from the list immediately, saying the inclusion of these rivers is unlawful and anti-people.
