Dear George,
The GBA was set up with a three point charter as recorded in the Memorandum to
the Governor of Goa, signed by over 6,500 people in Goa at the first public
meeting on 18 Decembe, 2008, at Azad Maidan, Panaji and submitted to the
Governor with copies to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary for record.
The three points are
1. Revocation of the Regional Plan 2011.
2. Involvement of the people of Goa in the planning process and
3. Reformulation of a new Regional Plan through a participatory process.
1.REVOCATION:
There was no law available to REVOKE the Regional Plan when notified. Through
the effort of the people of Goa, inspired and led by the GBA, the law was
legislated and the RPG 2011 was revoked. In theory you say. So be it. The
correct terminology, I believe is "de jure" .
Right now, one cannot construct on the Betim hill, the Baga Calangute hill, at
Quitol-Canaguinim, etc. In the last 18 months, these places would have been
converted .....and there would be an International Cricket Stadium in Tivim!
[Remember the Fatorday stadium was started and completed in less than 8
months.] This is not a GBA success. It is the success of the people of Goa,
inspired and led by GBA. Don't ask me, ask the people in Tivim, Quitol, Baga,
etc.
Go to Verna SEZ or Keri-Ponda SEZ and ask them what they feel about GBA's
involvement in SVM. Ask them who inspired and led the people to stop the SEZ
construction labour and machinery at the two sites.
Go to Colomb-Quepem and ask the villagers what they felt when the GBA team came
there on 26 March, 2008 or 05 June, 2008 when they were under pressure.
Do not take offence to the fact that i requested you not to send money to the
GBA when you offered. It is not because we do not want YOUR money. It was
because we did not need MONEY then and we do not need money at the moment.
People had already contributed money, and there is money to spare because we
all work for free. We love Goa as much as you do ...and a little bit more
because we live here. As I wrote then, I write now, When we need money we will
ask. The war is far from over. it may not even end in our generation.
2.INVOLVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE:
What is happening in the Gram Sabha meetings across Goa was triggered by the
empowering of the people through the GBA for the 26 January, 2007, resolution
against the RPG 2011. When the people realised that their resolutions in their
villages shook the Goa Government that was preparing for elections, they
realised that the Sarpanch was a small fly on the wall. That is the miracle
that keeps repeating. The GBA inspires. It cannot do everything. It is done on
voluntary basis. We are not gods. We know our limitiations ....and the infinite
power of T.E.A.M. Together Everyone Achieves More.
Yesterday, Oscar Rebelo thought he was "Pele". Tomorrow he will realise the
value of the T.E.A.M. of which he was the star player with the Media persons as
his cheerleaders. He was their darling. The operative word is "WAS". What is
the Palm Sunday Donkey [PSD] worth without Jesus on its back. The PSD was not
crucified, Jesus was. The PSD is remembered by a few on Palm Sunday. Jesus has
more than a billion followers 2000 years after his death ..... because of
resurrection. Yesterday was a partial solar eclipse in Goa. The place darkened
a little bit more because of Oscar. Today is another day ....bright and
beautiful. There is a presentation o on the TCP [Amendmant] Act, 2008. The
people of Goa will get it revoked ...through their Gram Sabha resolutions,
village by village. The process began last Sunday. Ten more villages have their
Gram Sabha meetings on the 03 Aug. They will move and pass the resolutions. The
GBA inspires and leads. The people do.
The people win. That is all that matters. Doesn't it? Is it not what Goa
Sudharop works for?
3.RE-RORMULATION of the RPG 2021
Amidst criticism of "kissing ass", the GBA stood by its written commitment to
the people of Goa .... specially to the 6,500-plus signatories to the 18
December, 2006, Memorandum to the Government .... and participated in the Task
Force on RPG 2021 when it was constituted on 04 October, 2007, to frame the
GUIDELINES for the TCP to prepare the RPG 2021. On 26 February, 2008, the Goa
government changed the Goal posts and made the mandate of the Task Force to
PREPARE the RPG 2021. Opinion was divided. Most of us disagreed with the
changed mandate. Architect Ritu Prasad informed the Task Force that the GBA
does not agree with the changed mandate. Dr. Oscar told them the GBA agreed
...when that was NOT the Truth. Ritu bore the snub in silence for the sake of
the cause and unity. We discussed it in the GBA. We did not make an issue out
of it outside the GBA as it would affect the credibility of Oscar. Apparently,
he does not care for it himself.
The Goa Government then shifted the goalposts again. With the connivance of the
Opposition parties, it passed the Goa TCP [Amendment] Act, 2008 putting the
Governemt "projects" [meaning literally anything from roads and airports to
hotels and housing] beyond the purview of the RPG 2021. The Planning is now
only for PRIVATE individuals and Companies, firms, partnerships and societies
... NOT for the Government!
The latest shift of the goal[posts is Prof Edgar Ribeiro, Advisor to the Govt
on TCP, wanting to push his 2-lane highway ....... with PEOPLE doing BOTTOM- TO
- TOP socio-economic planning and GOVERNMENT doing the TOP- TO - BOTTOM
"spatial" planning or LAND USE decisions ...... through the GBA. We are not
some dumbos wasting time at GBA meetings as Oscar may like to think of us. I am
no SAFFRONITE as even Rajan Parrikar .. leave alone Manohar Parrikar ... will
certify. I am no dumb Congress bootlicker either. Most of us in the GBA are
honest to God Goans:first, always and everytime!
You can go looking for torn down buildings as some go looking for torn hymen to
certify the virginity of the bride on the morning after. Sports women generally
do not have such a tissue to show. By George! Do you still doubt the
credentials of the GBA after all the action in Goa?? If YES, then you can find
another cause to eSPOUSE! ;-) The GBA is on course. Individuals do not matter
if they are not a part of the T.E.A.M.
Mog asundi.
Miguel
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 12:30:25 -0700 (PDT)
From: George Pinto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [Goanet] Goa Bachao Abhiyan is far from over
To: Goanet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Dear Miguel
For the benefit of those who are not aware of the GBA's successes, can you list
some of the land conversions/mega projects the GBA has stopped or reversed or
had torn down since the 2011 Regional Plan was revoked (in theory). It is
useful for all to be aware of the facts and GBA's accomplishments.
Regards,
George
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