PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday assured that his government would act in line with public sentiment, following the submission of a “Citizens Charter” prepared by a people’s movement led by Justice (Retd) Ferdino Rebello.
The assurance came a day after thousands gathered in Panaji for a massive public meeting where the charter was finalized.
The initiative, spearheaded by Justice Rebello, seeks to safeguard Goa’s environment, heritage, and democratic rights.
The meeting had culminated in the adoption of a set of demands, prominently including the scrapping of Sections 17(2) and 39A of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, which activists argue enable unchecked urbanization and threaten Goa’s fragile ecosystem.
Responding to questions from reporters at Wednesday's post-cabinet press conference, Sawant said: “We will do what the people want.”
He confirmed that the government has received the representation outlining the demands and promised to study it carefully. “I will go through it,” he added, signaling openness to dialogue with citizens’ groups.
The Citizens Charter, according to Justice Rebello, represents a collective voice against policies perceived to undermine Goa’s identity and sustainability. At Tuesday's meeting, he had emphasized that the movement was not political but a moral call to protect the State’s future.
Sawant’s statement marks the first official response to developments and is likely to set the tone for further deliberations.
Whether the government will move to amend or repeal the contested provisions of the TCP Act, however, remains to be seen.
