----- Original Message ----- From: Antonio Lobo Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 6:31 PM Subject: Press Note - Mapusa Nagrikancho Ekvott (MNE)
PRESS NOTE FOR FAVOUR OF PUBLICATION A delegation of the members of the Mapusa Nagrikancho Ekvott (M.N.E) in continuation of their protest to the notification of the Mapusa O.D.P had a joint meeting with the leader of the opposition Mr. Manohar Parrikar, Mr Francisco D'Souza MLA of Mapusa, the chairman of north Goa PDA Mr. N. Halarnkar and the member secretary of the N.G.P.D.A in the P.D.A premises in Panjim today i.e. 5.3.2009, where the members of this association pointed out the defects and deficiencies existing in the draft ODP and the changes that had been made in the notified ODP which did not reflect any of the suggestions and objections raised in time by this association before the various committees appointed to hear the grievances and suggestions of the public including the fact that no land use map had been prepared before drawing up the draft ODP. It was also brought to the attention of the leader of the opposition that present agricultural areas running into tens of thousands of square meters have been earmarked as high density and high value developmental areas. The chairman of the PDA sought to downplay such zoning by stating that the agricultural areas were tenanted and that such areas belonged mainly to the communidade and therefore no development would come up in those areas. The members of this association countered this blatantly false statement by pointing out that, as per their information, all these paddy fields/ agricultural land have been purchased from the so-called tenants and that all the other legal aspects had been taken care of and were just awaiting the notification of the ODP to obtain approvals for construction. This interjection by the members of this association was supported by the MLA of Mapusa who, stated that he is aware that some plans have already been approved by the PDA. Surprisingly, the chairman did not refute this statement by the MLA, clearly indicating that his earlier statement was false to his knowledge and that the entire exercise was meant to satisfy vested interests at the cost of the citizens of Mapusa, who, had suggested that some of these areas be converted into a park as the land was lying fallow and could thus be utilised to satisfy a long felt need of the citizen both, old and young to have an area where he/she could exercise, walk, meditate or sit in peace. The leader of the opposition has now called a new meeting in the coming week with the members of the association to trash out and discuss the best way in which he could help to resolve or mediate between the aspirations of the citizens at large and "development" sought to be carried out in the name of progress. In an unrelated story to the ODP this association was informed late in the afternoon today, that the Mapusa Municipal Council, which had accepted the proposal made by the M.N.E that the area vacated by the earlier existing shops near the Mapusa taxi stand which have been rebuilt by leaving a large setback should be utilised for building pavements so that the public would have some relief from the incessant and uncontrolled traffic in Mapusa, were going to tar the entire area giving a go-bye to the earlier accepted proposal. Being disturbed by this development the chairperson of the MMC when contacted washed her hands of the entire issue by stating that she could not interfere in the matter and that it was upto the Municipal engineer to carry out the resolution of the Municipal council. Since the work was on going, the members of this association together with the councilor Mr. Ryan Braganca went to the site and stopped the contractor from tarring the area which was meant for the building of the pavements. The MNE states in no uncertain terms that the present chairperson does not deserve to continue in the position as she does not seem to know the powers that a chairperson can exercise or pretends not to know in order to fool the public with a behaviour that is not expected from the highest authority in a municipal council. Adv. Antonio Lobo (Convenor)
