Calangute Gram Sabha demand scrapping of Regional Plan 2021 • Huge tracts of fields in front of Calangute Church declared as settlement • Massive area of prime coastal land within 200 meters High Tide line declared as Industrial Estate • Major irregularities exposed
The Calangute Gram Sabha held recently vociferously decried the Village Panchayat’s attempts to further concretise whatever little green area is left of this once beautiful village, and warned of serious consequences on the already fragile eco-system which has already bared the brunt of overdevelopment being the premier tourist destination of the State. The people of Calangute have opposed the Regional Plan 2021 for the village submitted to the Town and Country Planning at the Gram Sabha, demanding that the plan be scrapped as procedures were not followed. The Gram Sabha also charged that the zones of properties of only vested interest were sought to be changed. Anthony Menezes, President of Calangute United, an NGO spearheading a movement to stem the rot that is plaguing Calangute Village, led a tirade against the panchayat at the Gram Sabha with the full support and backing of the people who had gathered in large numbers. The final Regional Plan was never placed before the Gram Sabha for final approval. Menezes pointed that only a special meeting was held on 13th April, 2009 at 3.00 pm vide letter dated VP/Cal P-RP-09-10/ 067 among the Village Committee of the Regional Plan and its Technical Committee and the plan was finalized and was hurriedly sent to the Town Country Planning Department the very next day. The Regional Plan was not displayed before the people at the Gram Sabha nor kept for public viewing for even half an hour, Menezes charged. The Panchayat was specially taken to task with regards to the Regional Plan 2021 of the village, wherein it has come to light that huge tracts of paddy fields under survey nos. 7, 437, 436 in front of the St Alex, Calangute Church, on either side of the CHOG-M road and along side of the road leading to Nagoa have been declared as settlement zones. The people warned the panchayat, that if the fields in front of their church were converted to settlement, it would have to face the brunt and the ire of the people. Shockingly Menezes also disclosed that massive areas along the beach have been declared as areas for major industrial estates which is marked in black ink. Unbelievably these prime coastal areas falls within the 200 meters High Tide line. The huge tracts of land violates the CRZ totally. Menezes further exposed the fraudulent means in constituting the Village Committee for the Regional Plan 2021. When the secretary was asked to read out to the public the names of members who constituted the Village Committee for RP 2012, it came to light that changes were made to the Committee with the inclusion of new names, after Menezes produced a true copy of the original Committee members which carries the signature of the Calangute Panchayat secretary himself, much to the shock of the public. The original Committee was formed at the Gram Sabha dated 29th November, 2008, which is also recorded in the minutes. The Panchayat was also taken to task, by Menezes, who wanted to know why recommendations of ward wise committee’s of the Village for the Regional Plan were not considered in the Regional Plan. Instead applications from members of the Technical Committee found favour, Menezes declared. Menezes disclosed that the Technical Committee was formed among certain members of the Committee. To prove his point his pointed out that one property, adjacent to an ecological sensitive water body, under survey no. 39/4 has been granted settlement from orchard, belonging to a member of the Technical Committee. Another shocking revelation that came to light, is that of a property under survey no. 43/0, has been granted part settlement, despite it coming under Natural Cover and is covered by thick Forest vegetation situated on the hillock bordering Saligao village, the last green lung of Calangute. Surprisingly the Panchayat has in its noting favouring the settlement, argued that part of the property is a coconut garden with hardly 10% slope, while the rest of the property is orchard, and therefore okayed part rectification to settlement. It also noted that accordingly the NDS alignment must be changed. This property too belongs to another member of the Technical Committee, Menezes declared. In another case which drew laughter one Eknath Nagvekar has applied that 13 properties which fall in the settlement zone and that too not adjacent to each other, be reverted to the Economic Sensitive Zone. Menezes urged Nagvenkar to kindly inform the Gram Sabha where these properties were situated in Calangute, which Nagvenkar drew a blank, not knowing where these properties were, much to the surprise of the people. How can one ask for change of zone of properties, that too 13 in all, without knowing where they were situated, Menezes asked and declared that it appeared some one was firing the gun from the shoulder of Nagvenkar, in what appears to be a case of vendetta. Menezes declared that Regional Plan seems to be used to settle scores and declared that this was abuse and misuse of power by the Panchayat member. Menezes also expressed surprise that the Panchayat has now decided to seek settlement of the cattle pound which was built by the Panchayat in the fields donated by Neville Proenca via a gift deed. Menezes pointed out that the Panchayat had built a pucca tar road leading to the fields where a concrete cattle pound was built, with full-fledged electricity and water connection. It is obvious that with these changes, the zone has automatically changed, Menezes pointed out and expressed surprise that the panchayat was now seeking to declare the cattle pound as settlement. He sought to know the intentions of the Panchayat and whether this was a back door entry by the Panchayat to convert fields to settlement through social projects? Menezes also questioned and demanded to know as to how one Radha Krishna a non-Goan is building a palatial house in the fields, which is supposed to be a pump house in an area of 10 square meters, as per the panchayat license, for the purpose of cultivation. Menezes disclosed that a huge construction of ground plus one is being built and sought to know from the Deputy Sarpanch Mrs Sneha Salgaokar, whether the panchayat was in receipt of any complaint against the construction. Mrs. Salgaokar, replied in the affirmative stating that one Sandeep Korgaokar did complain on 29th June, 2010. Menezes sought to know what action was being taken against the illegal construction, despite the complaint for over a month, Mrs Salgaokar had no answer to offer. Menezes declared that he had also raised the issue in his letter to the panchayat to be included in the Gram Sabha agenda on July 20th, despite this there was no action from the Panchayat. As an eye wash Menezes pointed out that a notice was sent only on 24th July, a day before the Gram Sabha. Menezes disclosed that he had sent a letter to the Town and Country Planning dated 27th April, 2009, apprising the Department of the irregularities and the illegalities of the plan and objecting to the plan. 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