GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT A private initiative supported and funded by contributions of the participants. A large gathering of different shades of people at Lohia maidan was apacked beyond capacity with crowds spreading into streets, breaking religious barriers and from different parts of Goa, self motivated, lent their support to the organizers,. The gathering was entertained , sensitized, created interest by Tiatrists , Francis de Tuem, Marcus, Lawry Travaso,Xavier Gomes and comedians Neto and Richard. Then groups from different parts of Goa dwelled on the disastrous effects of RP 21 in their own back yard .Almost all the groups were of the opinion that the RP 21 in its present form has converted very large tracts of mountains ,plateaus, fields are converted into settlement zone, back door entry to eco tourism and favouring big chain of hotels permitted construction within 200 to 500 meters of CRZ , The present habitation are deliberately left out. Mr Prasssana highlighted about Cavelossim, destruction of sand dunes, CRZ favouring Hotel promotion and ignoring carrying capacity of beaches. Fatima Fernandes was emotionally vocal and emotionally charged in her deposition about Siolim and Chapora river into echo tourism. Mr Baretto spoke about Canacona, promoting more industrial estates at Loliem , Sadolxem, when one is not functioning. Hotels are in the offing The flooding of last time was blamed on unplanned filing of natural distribution of water routes, loss of greenery, The expansion of NH 17 from 8 mts to 25 mts will have adverse effects on existing settlements. Agnelo Rodrigues spoke about plight of Goenkarancho Ramponkarancho Ekvot stressed about the force of 80 lakhs members and ignoring their basic existence and living. Sidarth Karapukar about NH17 planned to be widened by 80 mts and 4 mts height, that would be seen from space apart from Great wall of China. No bidders for Mopa airport unless rapid transport system is in place , Western express highway is unexplainable at 80 meters wide needing 3.50 L trucks for filling this stretch alone, Municipalities are kept outside OPD of RP21, as there is no protest like in Panchayats .The broadening of roads from 10mts, 15, mts, 25 mts will hit the dwellers on roadsides and favour builders lobby. The Goans for sustainable development made detail presentation with slides which was very effective visual. The study is complete with 120 villages out of 283villages and compared against Google images The RP21 largely favours builders, industries plateaus, mountains, fields shown in settlement areas and hinterland inclusion pushing indirectly echo tourism Fr Eremito called the present rulers as anti Goan and are the worst enemies not comparable with Portuguese and British.RP21 should be scrapped in toto with moratorium and permit single dwelling houses ill then He said the MOPA being under special PDA is unheard of an measure for acting brazenly and roughshod against all normal regulations All Goans leaving aside their differences of religion etc must unite to preserve Goan identity and not to make the same mistake of putting the present rulers in the saddle again This may the last elections for Goans to stress their identity Diana too made visual representation of preservation of pure water and how destruction of mountains, plateaus leads to scarcity of drinking water, She highlighted convincingly about mining activity polluting drinking water sources and also effecting life in oceans The participants displayed strong bonding with the movement Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
