http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/03/stories/2008080351550300.htm
GBA to pressure MLAs to revoke controversial amendments Special Correspondent PANAJI: The Goa Bachav Abhiyan (GBA), people's movement crusading against irregularities in and violations of the State land-use plans, has launched a movement to pressure MLAs to revoke the two amendments to the State Town and Country Planning Act passed during the last session of the Legislative Assembly. The two amendments, which have invited the ire of the GBA, give powers to the State and the Union governments to "undertake any public projects, schemes or development works which need not conform to the provisions of the Regional Plan for Goa as may be in force". Ritu Prasad of the GBA said on Saturday, before a public meeting, that fast track clearance of projects could not be through two sets of regulations -- one for the Government and another for the people. The amendments were passed in the budget session of the Assembly in March without any debate, Ms. Prasad said. Describing the amendments as intended to "dis-empower the people" and expressing apprehensions that the Government might be looking for pushing through anything in the guise of public interest, including projects in the name of public-private participation, she said that the GBA had decided to reach all the MLAs with the help of people to get their support for forcing the Government to bring amendments to revoke the two amendments in the Assembly session due this month. On Friday, convener of the GBA Oscar Rebello quit the post following differences within the abhiyan over the issue of "people's participation in the formulation and implementation of the State Regional Plan - 2021" which is being prepared. Mr. Rebello simultaneously resigned as the GBA's representative on the Goa Government's task force formulating the State Regional Plan - 2021. Two other members of the GBA, Patricia Pinto and Ms. Prasad, have also resigned from the task force which is led by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.