-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Wishing all Goanetters | | a Prosperous | | and | | Happy New Year - 2006 | | Goanet - http://www.goanet.org | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A motorcade rally was held this Sunday afternoon since 1530hrs vending its way through the constituency of Ms Victoria Fernandes MLA Santa Cruz, Deputy Speaker Goa Legislative Assembly by the Santa Cruz Citizens Action Committee to congratulate Ms Fernandes and all those who fought relentless to remove the revenue villages from the PDAs of Panaji and Mapusa Planning areas.
It may be recalled that following a two month rally which included a Jail Bharo Andolan two morchas held in Panaji the citizens of Goa opposed tooth and nail inclusion of revenue villages in the planning areas. It was felt that with the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments empowering the village panchayats and municipalities the Government could not usurp powers given to the people and impose upon them developmental activities by covering such areas under the Planning Development Authorities. Incidentally though Ms Fernandes belongs to the ruling Congress coalition in the State it was a unique tussle in the sense that Ms Fernandes had to fight against the adamancy of her own government and this she did by seeking the blessings of Ms Sonia Gandhi Chairperson United Progressive Alliance and Mr Ahmed Patel the political advisor of the Party President Ms Gandhi. Having her assurance it was left Chief Minister to do the needful and accordingly the notification dated 3.1.2006 was issued repealing 24 revenue villages leaving only Chicalim, Chicolna Dabolim Sancoale Issorcim under the Vasco da Gama Planning area PDA headed by Mr Karl Vaz MLA Mormugao Assembly Constituency and revenue village Taleigao te fiefdom of Town & Country Planning Minister Mr Atnasio Babush Monserate who is also the MLA of Taleigao. It may be noted that Mr Monseratte also controls the Village Panchayat at Taleigao. Reacting to the query as to the reason why some revenue villages as above were not excluded Ms Fernandes felt that it was for the respective Villaga Panchayats concerned to move resolutions to that effect and hand them over to the Chief Minister. This is because the CM had clearly stated that unless the resolutions come from the respective village Panchayats he would not withdraw the same. Meanwhile though the issue has now been set at rest, Ms Victoria responding to the long drawn celebrations assured the voters that she would always stand by the wishes of the people come what may irrespective of the political dictates. She bluntly stated that for her the peoples aspiration comes first and then political compulsions. It is now gathered that some citizens groups are also intending to felicitate her on here bold achievement and her valiant struggle. Among those present on the specially arranged vehicle for the long morcha Ms Jyoti Palyekar ex Sarpanch Merces, Mr Chandrakant Kuncolienkar of Merces Mr Agnelo Oliveira Chairman of the Santacruz Constituency Citizens Committee, and other supporters who came on their own two and three wheelers and participated in the entire procession which wound up at 2030 hrs. Side lights of the celebration despite her age over 70 years Ms Fernandes reponded to the the cheers of her voters in the scorching afternoon post siesta session unfazed; as the people of her constituency awoke to the song of CONGRATULATIONS they came running on the streets and waiwed the convoy which Ms Fernandes and others responded too; some of the narrow lanes provide anxious moments for the vehicles to take a detour; it was a pitiable sight to see that plastics and garbage were strewn all over and garbage flowing around unattended was a menance; cattle was seen eating the plastic garbage in almost most parts of the constituency; at Indira nagar chimbel which is akin to asias biggest slums it was a pity to see children who outnumbered the adults they were treated to sweets while the women folk mainly migrants cheered the convoy; Ms Fernandes was profusely garlanded at Chimbel and other places Revellers smeare all those atop the specially decorated vehicle with "gulal" vermillion powder; It was a sad site to see a hill being razed to the ground to make way for construction at Banda; >From the response Ms Fernandes got at all corners it was clear that women admired her the most; Santa Cruz village has a great influx of migrant labour and some of them stay in humble dwelling reminiscent of a chawl in unhygienic surroundings; being a suburb town of the capital city of Panaji one can be sure that the demographic composition of this otherwise predominantly catholic constituency will cause rise in social and criminal disaster in the years to come Ms Fernandes condemned the housing project of the Hara Group at Santa Cruz in the marshy land and also the project at Bambolim Aldeia de Goa which will cause severe imbalance to the topography in the region; The Town and Country ordinance though not repealed yet Ms Fernandes rests assured the High Commands directive to Mr Rane and his assurance to repeal the same was only a matter of technicality; from the Santa Cruz Constituency end GODFREY J I GONSALVES BORDA MARGAO GOA 9822158584 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send instant messages to your online friends http://in.messenger.yahoo.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------