the goan I network
MAPUSA
Lamenting that rule of law has taken a backseat in Calangute, Urban Development Minister and senior BJP party-man, Francisco D’Souza said all structures that were coming up in the constituency were illegal.
“Not a single structure is legal in Calangute. Land-filling has been done in all low-lying areas from Parra to Calangute and Arpora-Nagoa and the constructions that have sprouted on them are all illegal,” D’Souza said, obviously targeting his junior colleague in BJP and deputy speaker, Michael Lobo.
The urban development minister said the government was forced to reopen all the Outline Development Plans (ODPs), including Mapusa, because some people from Calangute approached the High Court exposing the blatant misuse of official machinery while preparing the Calangute-Candolim ODP.
He said people holding important government positions should act responsibly and uphold the rule of law.
“You need to construct high-rise structures as per the building bye-laws. You cannot side track the rule of law. Doing illegal things will only lead to chaos,” he said further.
Lobo had rankled his senior colleague recently when on February 3 at a public meeting at Verla-Canca, he said Mapusa was always dirty with 24-hour garbage found in the city.
In another incident last year, on September 30, Lobo at a function in Mapusa Police Station indirectly blamed local leadership for ignoring Mapusa’s development for the last 20 years.
Meanwhile, for the locals in Candolim and Calangute, the State government’s desire to reopen the draft ODP was a small victory against blatant illegalities in the coastal village.
“Let us unite to save our environment for future generations. Calangute citizens should raise your voices in unison without fear of politicians on the ODP. Let us not be slaves of money power and dictators,” said Damiao Telles, one of the petitioners who had moved the PIL in the High Court of Bombay in Goa against the ODP.
Former Parra sarpanch, Benedict D’Souza, appealed to other leaders (former MLA Agnelo Fernandes and former Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira) to join hands and take a lead.
“Call whoever, wherever and however…Our focus should be to get the job done…Our villages are more important than our egos and past experiences,” said Roshan Mathias, a resident of Candolim and one of the petitioners in the HC.
