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Press Statement: Issued (jointly) by: "GOA ENVIRONMENT ACTION GROUP" "MAPUSA ACTIVE CITIZEN'S UNION" "GOA SU-RAJ PARTY" At the Press Conference held today, 7 November, 2005 at the Roof Garden of Manvin's Hotel, Panjim addressed by Hon'ble Deputy Speaker, Goa Legislative Assembly, Ms. Nirmala Sawant, Mr. Floriano Lobo of GEAG & GSRP, Mr. Melson Luis of SGPIAG (Margao) and others of the Santa Cruz Citizen's Action Committee. Dated: November 07, 2005 The promulgation of the 'Town & Country Planning Ordinance' is acutely denounced in no uncertain terms. Such an Ordinance has no place in a democratic set-up where draconian legislations benefiting the law-makers and their agendas are ushered-in through the back door to the utter shock and dismay of the unsuspecting citizens. At a point where the State's legislature and/or the elected People's Representatives cannot be trusted with making laws that will protect the long term interests of the State and its citizens, the Governor, who is the head of the State, is vested with enough powers to arrest such arbitrary, self-serving, draconian policy decisions by the Legislature and/or the Cabinet of Ministers and consign them to the dust bins. However, it is regretted that our Governor, Mr. S.C. Jamir has failed the State and its citizens in this regard and has allowed himself to be led by men of straw, bringing the people of this State to the brink of confrontations with the elected Government. The 'GOA ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION GROUP' , The 'MAPUSA ACTIVE CITIZEN'S UNION' and the 'GOA SU-RAJ PARTY' demand unconditional and total withdrawal of the 'TCP ORDINANCE' forthwith. The Government of Goa is hereby warned not to play with the sentiments of the people of Goa. Collectively, peaceful and non-provocative citizen's protests have been strategized to bring the people of Goa together to strongly oppose this draconian piece of legislation with a demand to scrap it altogether, immediately. If it is felt that the Government of Goa is not willing to heed to this determined request, then the blame for whatever follows will be squarely pinned on the negative attitude of the Government. With respect to the PDAs , we believe that these are the integral part of the Town & Country planning Act. As such, they must function within the ambit of the said Act, purely for the planning purposes rather than to be the machines of harassment and extortion of citizens. We regret that the governance of this State has come to such a state of affairs that the citizens, who must utilize their time fruitfully to look after their own needs and those of their families, are forced to come on the roads to demand that their elected representatives apply their minds to things that will improve their lot and give them satisfaction rather than antagonize them with non-compatible and self-serving legislations such as the TCP Ordinance. We urge the people of Goa to vociferously seek to kill this devastating TCP Ordinance, in their individual capacity and/or collectively as groups, committees and NGOs, irrespective of party affiliations, before it kills Goa and Goans. End The following actions are planned for the coming week: Tuesday (8 Nov, 2005) : Jail Bharo action to commence at 0200 p.m. near Customs House, Panjim. Wednesday (9 Nov, 2005) : Ditto action to commence at Porvorim (0930 hrs). Thursday (10 Nov, 2005) : Darna culminating into a public meeting at Old Goa ( courtesy Nirmala Sawant). Friday (11 Nov, 2005) : Dharna at Jetty, Panjim ( courtesy Goa Environment Federation, PMCA & Others) between 1000 and 1300 hrs. Friday (11 Nov 2005) : Public Meeting at Mapusa Taxi Stand (1630- 2000 hrs) ( courtesy GEAG, MACU, GSRP) with speakers representing most NGOs, representing all Goa. The above actions will be peaceful and considerate. If the Goa Government does not heed to the wishes of the people of Goa into scrapping the TCP ORDINANCE immediately, the action will not be able to be controlled and peaceful as the patience of the people is wearing thin. This could see the re-run on the lines of the KONKANI AGITATION.
