------------------------------------------------------ Welcome to the FRIDAY BALCAO Read the Balcao Synopsis on the website http://www.goadesc.org/balcao/ ------------------------------------------------------
Dear Cybergaonkars on Goanet, Friday Balcao the fortnightly discussion event to be held on 10th March will focus on Solutions to Encroachments on Roads and Open Spaces in Goa. Everyday there is a discussion or a newsreport on encroachments on some road or open space in some part of Goa. These encroachments have been done with a view either to extend a house, a shop, a garage or a cattle shed or to start a business, erect an advertisement hoarding or install a religious structure. Many of these encroachments are within the areas of the Village Panchayats and Municipal Councils but strangely some are in neither of these local bodies jurisdiction. In some cases encroachments are found on land of the Communidades and the Industrial Estates while in the case of the State and National highways & by-passes they are within the perview of the PWD. Many a time the encroachment is considered an acceptable wrong purely on the basis of the status, caste, religion or ethnicity of the encroacher. Similarly the encroachment becomes a target of a complaint or demolition purely on the basis of its nuisance, harassment or extortion value. There have been so many encroachments over the last two decades and very little action has been forthcoming from the Government officials and the citizens at large. We need to find solutions for Goa. What role can the Village Gram Sabha or Housing Society play in curbing such encroachments ? Can Religious leaders take the first step to remove their own religious structures which are encroachments on roads and open spaces ? What role can the Village Panchayats and Municipal Councils play in effectively curbing encroachments ? Can the forthcoming Village Panchayat and Assembly elections see this issue being on the manifestos of the political parties and independent candidates ? What proactive role can a PWD Executive Engineer, Village Panchayat Secretary and Municipal Council Chief Officer play in curbing such encroachments? Can complaints filed with the Police, Taluka Mamlatdar, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Additional Collector and the Chief Secretary be effective ? What is the role of the Town & Country Planning Department (TCPD) and Coastal Regulation Zone Management Authority (CRZMA) in cases of encroachment or should a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court be a last resort to action ? The Balcao discussion will cover these questions and also evolve an agenda for action by citizens on the issue. Friday Balcao will be from 4pm to 6pm at the Goa Desc Resource Centre No.11 Liberty Apartments Feira Alta, Mapusa and is open to members of the public. We invite you to attend the Friday Balcao event but if you cannot attend, then please send your views and action plan suggestions by post to FRIDAY BALCAO Post Box 78, Mapusa 403 507 or by email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] best wishes, Roland Martins ================================================== GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org -------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy ==================================================
