Dears,
Here are three newspaper reports that I found while looking on the Web for the
"Special Correspondent" report entitled "Why did Oscar, Patricia and Ritu
resign?" in the Herald dated 05 August, 2008.
The above cited report is an excellent PR [the other seven following letters go
unwritten]job done for the Establishment,obviously not without a little help
from its friends in the Task Force, who were trying to pass off Prof. Edgar
Ribeiro's formulation discussed on 12 June, 2008, in the Maquinez Palace office
of the Task Force as a GBA proposal. The whole reference to Taluka PDAs has
been wonderfully glossed over. Absolutely no mention is made that SPATIAL
Planning [read Land Use Planning or LUP/SUP] will be TOP-DOWN as it is now,
with the TCP Board deciding what you can do with your land and the Billage
Panchayats can have the last word ..... as long as it is "YES!"
We will see that on another day. Right now read what the High Court is saying
about the proliferation of marinas, casino and mining jetties in the Mandovi
river, the slow pace of setting up of the three coastal police zones [Siolim,
Marmagoa and Betul] with jurisdiction in CRZ and EEZ "zones" along the entire
110 Km coast in Goa, INCLUDING the beaches, and the river front, and what
Dr.Wilfred deSouza, Mathany Saldanha, Snjeev Raiturkar, Ethel Lobo, Adv. Jatin
Naik and Paul Fernandes have to say on a common platform. It is reported that
the CWC has acknowledged that the GBA has woken up to a bright new dawn with
the presentation on Goa TCP [Amendment] Act, 2008.
Mog asundi.
Miguel
Herald Monday 04 August.2008
HERALD CORRESPODENT
PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa on Monday directed the government to
file an affidavit and inform whether the Coastal Regulation Zone notifications
were violated while constructing private jetties in the state.
The court passed the order on a petition filed by Gopal Atmaram Parab
challenging the construction of private jetties. During the hearing, it was
brought to the notice of the court by the respondents that there are 55 such
private jetties in the state. Subsequently, the court has asked the government
to check this claim.
The government has to verify whether the private jetties have permission from
the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority.
NAVHIND TIMES:
Coastal police slow on setting up force
by GLENN COSTA
Senior Reporter
PANAJI — The state authorities seem to be moving at a snail’s pace on setting
up a force to defend its 105-km coastline though terror groups are targeting
the country with increasing regularity and Goa being one of the likely targets.
It must be noted here that the Centre has approved an outlay of Rs 1,653.50
lakh under Coastal Security Scheme for the period from 2005-06 to 2009-10.
Further, it has already released funds under Coastal Security Scheme during
2005-06 to a tune of Rs 37.05 lakh, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
But the present number of coastal police stations is three with the stations at
Siolim, Betul and Marmagao harbour and the first two functioning out of former
police outposts and the total manpower being three officers, 17 head constables
and 79 police constables. A proper Siolim police station is still under
construction.
The force also has all of four motorised canoes, one each being stationed at
Siolim, Betul, Panaji and Agacaim. “The process to modernise and enhance the
force is on,” defended the superintendent of police, Mr Om Prakash Kutchadkar
informing that the Centre has sanctioned 9 new boats. Sources said that the
order has already been given for their construction.Mr Kutchadkar also argued,
“This is a dual jurisdiction and it is our responsibility along with the Coast
Guard,” but admitted that the Coast Guard concentrates more on the high seas
due to the increase in the size of the country’s economic zone. When asked if
the drug trade for which Goa has become infamous helps terrorism, the SP said
that till now no such link had been found but asked the public to be alert and
to report any such incidents to the police. The initiative is part of the
central Coastal Security Scheme for reinforcing infrastructure in coastal areas
which will be used for
patrolling and surveillance in nine states and four union territories. The
scheme was approved in January 2005 for implementation in 5 years from the year
2005-06 with an approved outlay of Rs 400 crore for non-recurring expenditure.
The areas covered under the scheme are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka,
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Puducherry,
Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The first installment (50 per cent) of the funds for construction of buildings
has been sanctioned wherein the State Police Housing Corporations are executing
the project in the states except in Goa where the PWD is the executing agency.
A lumpsum assistance of Rs 10 lakh per police station will also be provided for
computers, office equipment, communication equipment etc. The scheme will see
the Centre assist the shareholders in setting up coastal police stations and
equipment like boats, jeeps and motorcycles and having a marine police
component with personnel trained by the Coast Guard in maritime functioning.
The state police are considering of employing ex-naval personnel to man the
vessels which will have policemen on board to handle other law and order
duties. Policemen are also being trained with 15 of them undergoing training at
the National Institute of Water Sports, Caranzalem in swimming, power boat
handling and life-saving techniques. The
present strength will also be strengthened.
Govt trying to implement RP 2011 through ODP, alleges Dr Willy
HERALD CORRESPODENT
PORVORIM, AUG 3 – Dr Wilfred de Souza, president of Nationalist Congress Party,
has alleged that government through Outline Development Plan (ODP) is trying to
implement Regional Plan 2011, as Pilerne Citizens Forum has threatened to
launch an agitation throughout the State.
“In democracy, peoples voice is always supreme. Goans have awakened now and it
is high time they unite and urge the government to stop mega projects if they
desire to maintain identity of the State,” said Dr de Souza.
Dr de Souza assured the villagers that he would take up the issue with Chief
Minister Digambar Kamat and impress upon him not to permit mega projects in the
State.
Mathany Saldanha said that if mega projects were allowed to come up in the
State, then the population of Goans would be reduced to 33%. “Eventually, Goans
will become anonymous in their own state,” said Saldanha.
Ethel Lobo and Advocate Yatin Naik also spoke on the occasion. Paul Fernandes
welcomed and compered the function.
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