One of the newspapers in Goa published the wealth of various politicians.
These folks aresupposed to be of modest income. How come they have become
"crorepatis" after entering politics ? I wonder, I
wonder....................... Politics is indeed a lucrative profession.
From: Edwin/Diana Pinto <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, December 7, 2015 3:43 PM
Subject: [Goanet] GFDO Press Note
December 7, 2015
GFDO said that the BJP government seems to have conveniently forgotten that it
was voted into power based on its 2012 election manifesto, which clearly stated
that “Regional Plan will be scrapped and a new one to be drawn up with people’s
participation in a transparent manner”. This was later reinforced in the
Governor's address to the Assembly. Therefore, it is unacceptable that the BJP
government should propagate and declare intention to notify the same Regional
Plan 2021, which it so vehemently opposed and attacked during the Digambar
Kamat led Congress dispensation. Since the BJP government has now obviously
decided to stage a U turn and go against the manifesto based upon which it was
elected, it is morally obliged to resign and seek a fresh mandate from the
people of Goa based upon its new found adherence to RP 2021, which it had
strongly rejected along with the people of Goa before the 2012 elections.
In the past three and a half years of its rule in the state of Goa, the earlier
Parrikar and present Parsekar led BJP state governments have clearly
demonstrated a calculated lack of will and intention to establish a people and
environment oriented Regional Plan, even as it freely facilitated the
acquisition by vested interests of large swathes of precious Goan land and
community resources. The government’s lack of seriousness with respect to the
Regional Plan is once again obvious from its timing in opening up the Regional
Plan to the people in December, which is the peak of Goa’s tourism season and
the height of the state’s festive season.
The importance of putting in place a Regional Plan that does not go against the
laws of nature has been very effectively showcased in the Chennai disaster,
which has been brought about by reckless building and encroachments upon river
canals, lakes, water bodies and natural drainage paths. GFDO urges the people
of Goa to learn from the lessons of Chennai and closely monitor and question
the actions of the BJP state government, which is brazenly relaxing norms for
CRZ and eco-sensitive zones and granting Environment Clearances for projects
like the proposed Mopa Airport and Tiracol golf course without any
justification whatsoever. It appears that the government is committed to
releasing corporate and vested interests from the healthy restraints imposed by
the rule of law. Devising strangely anarchic laws that subvert the rule of law
by empowering the government to legalise illegal encroachments thus creating
strategic vote banks that will ultimately disempower Goans who are stakeholders
in the land is yet another way this government is moving to undermine democracy
in the state.
Whilst expressing solidarity with Claude Alvares and Goa Foundation, GFDO said
that the Parsekar government needed to explain why the NGO needed to be
investigated. Did it find concrete anomalies in its funding and functioning
that would demand an investigation or is it the unwritten policy of this BJP
government to create an atmosphere of intimidation and intolerance by harassing
and browbeating into submission any NGO or citizen who ventures to question its
actions? The people of Goa have many questions that need answers.
For GFDO
Fr. Eremito Rebelo
Convenor
