Just as in the other villages of Benaulim, Tivim, Chicalim, Cansaulim it was the turn of the Villagers of Cansaulim who in their meeting on Tuesday November 9th pressed the Government of Goa to go ahead with the notification of eco-sensitive zones and restriction of constructions till finalisation of the Regional Plan 2021. Recently the villages of Cansaulim and Velsao were flooded by the freak rain-showers in late October thanks to the damage that is wrecked on the land by all the construction, filling up of fields and ponds to construct the Sports Complex in Cansaulim, blocking of traditional drainages and paths by unscruplous builders, with the backing of the local MLA. Does the Government of Goa and our politicians care about common villagers when it’s all about raking the moolah and patronising their builder buddies like the Queeny’s, DLF, Rahejas and the rest when it comes to protecting eco-sensitive zones and ratifying RP 2021 per the wishes of the people? The Government has a vested interest in pushing it’s hidden agenda although this is apparent to all. The next round of village meetings are scheduled for:
November 11, near Ideal High School, Piligao-Bicholim and November 13 at Moira Club grounds November 14 at Tiracol-Pernem. Villagers will share the trials and difficulties that they are faced to deal with because of illegal mining destroying vast tracts of forest land with both flora and fauna and endangered species lost forever and sale of almost an entire village that houses a historical site. So what if all the soil and the natural resources are shipped on a slow boat to China, the Railways and the MPT will make sure that they speeden up the process by acquiring more land and coastal areas in Salcette. The Goa Government in turn is now trying to bring the entire population of the country with the largest poulation in the world namely China to Goa as tourists as per the latest news reports – all the more reason to go on a massive construction without caring a damn for Goa and Goans. In the meantime all that mineral wealth that is being exploited can be used by our neighbour to create more weapons to be directed against our own Nation! There is a method to the madness behind the Government of Goa’s grandiose plans only it doesn’t include the welfare of Goans in the scheme of affairs! The following reports on the meeting in Cansaulim are from today’s Herald and Navhind Times. ************************************************************************ Cansaulim villagers press for notification of eco zones - Navhind Times Published on: November 11, 2010 - 00:24 MARGAO: The Cansaulim village group organised a village-level meeting in the panchayat hall on Tuesday as part of the GBA’s campaign to press for the notification of eco-sensitive zones and restriction of constructions till finalisation of the Regional Plan 2021. At the meeting, in the wake of the chief minister’s announcement that the Pernem and Canacona taluka plans had been approved by the TCP board, villagers sought to know when their taluka plans would be ready and criticised the delay. Ms Sheila Gracias coordinated the discussions on the Regional Plan and explained how the village level committee of Cansaulim worked to map the village resources and passed gram sabha resolution to accord VP 3 status to their village. She lamented that the delay in notifying the eco zones and approving the village status had led to unnecessary tension in the village as construction plans were approved contrary to the decisions of the gram sabha. Mr Max D’Souza from Pale-Velsao echoing the sentiments of Ms Sheila said that he was also part of the village committee for the Regional Plan and had extensively toured every ward to get the data of the village on the plan. Mr Ashley Fernandes of Cansaulim explained the demographic changes that are taking place under the guise of "development" in Cansaulim and alleged that greed and corruption are leading to social tensions and disunity in the villages, as the people’s plan is not implemented. Mr Miguel Braganza of GBA argued that the GBA had worked for the RP 2021, reaching the people, so that they could decide whether the kind of development envisaged by the government benefits the village or not. Mr Arvind Bhatikar said that the government should come out with clear guidelines on the basis of which the taluka plans have been drawn up. "The people are unaware about the guidelines and the fate of village plans they had participated in revising and incorporating," Mr Bhatikar said. Fr Maverick and Dr Sabina Martins, convener of the GBA also spoke. Similar village meetings have been scheduled on November 11, near Ideal High School, Piligao-Bicholim, and November 13 at Moira Club grounds, November 14 at Tiracol-Pernem. *Cansaulim insists on notification of eco-sensitive zones* * * *HERALD REPORTER* *PANJIM, NOV 10 * Village group of Cansaulim have insisted notification of eco-sensitive zones and restriction of construction to 50 Floor Area Report (FAR) pending finalization of the Regional Plan (RP) 2021. This was discussed during a village level meeting at Cansaulim Panchayat, on Tuesday, which was attended by several hundred villagers. GBA convenor Sabina Martins said that the villagers sought to know when their taluka plans would be ready after chief minister Digambar Kamat recently announced that taluka plans of Pernem and Canacona were approved by the Town and Country Planning (TCP). GBA brought to the notice of the public that in status report on RP 2021, given by the CM to GBA in October, the work in Mormugao was way behind as eco-sensitive zones I and II were yet to be marked from Google imagery. A local, Sheila Gracias lamented that the delay in notifying the eco-zones and approving the village status has led to unnecessary tension in the village as construction plans were approved contrary to the decisions of the gram sabha. Another villager from Chinchinim Agenelo Furtado, recalling many inconclusive sabha meetings in the past, suggested that neutral speakers be appointed for a fruitful outcome. “Gram Sabha should not become garam sabhas as we need positive solution to problems that villagers in Goa are facing,” he stated. Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) convener Fr Maverick rued that though people are willing to participate for better development, the government is not paying heed. “The CSJP had worked on a framework of Goa development Planning Act 2010 with technical expertise to replace the outdated TCP Act and submitted the report to the Government in August 2010. But there is no response till date,” he said. Aravind Bhatikar of the GBA said that the government should come out with clear guidelines on the basis of which the taluka plans have been drawn up. “The people are unaware about the guidelines and the fate of village plans they had participated in revising and incorporating,” Bhatikar said. GBA has organized similar village meetings at Piligao-Bicholim on November 11, Moira Club grounds and Tiracol-Pernem on November 12 and 14, respectively. _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ _/ _/ tambdimati: the Goa review is a community blog of original _/ art, writing, music, news and commentary from and about the _/ smallest state in the subcontinent. check out the newest _/ member of the Goanet family daily at _/ http://www.tambdimati.com. _/ _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/