-------------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help others be BETTER INFORMED, The time is come for the people of Goa to ORGANISE not AGONISE !! ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- We want the Essence of Goa to be Preserved ---------------------------------------------- Dr Oscar Rebello, Convenor, Goa Bachao Abhiyan in an interview to Abdul Rauf Beig says that there has been 21 per cent change in settlement areas from the draft Regional plan 2011 and the finally approved plan, without public, local bodies, etc, being informed about the changes. He also adds that the plan is illegal and should be scrapped and a new one should be formulated taking into consideration the views of urban designers, planners, environmentalists, etc.
Why are you opposed to Regional plan 2011? We are opposed to the plan for the simple reason that this regional plan has been changed drastically from the draft regional plan which was put out for public scrutiny in August this year. I would like to state here that there has been 21 per cent change in settlement areas from the draft plan and the finally approved plan, without public, local bodies, etc, being informed about the changes. Clearly a plan which involves all of us and the future of Goa has not been kept for discussion with the relevant stakeholders and since this practice has not been followed I would say that this plan is illegal and should be scrapped and a new one formulated taking into consideration the views of urban designers, planners, environmentalists, etc. We want the essence of Goa to be preserved. But the Regional Plan 2011 is said to have been drawn to correct the regional imbalance that has been seen in the state since the boom in development from mid1980s onwards? If the plan was so transparent, why was it not put up for public scrutiny? If it was a wonderful plan why were they hiding it from public gaze all the time till it was notified? If one takes a look at the plan it sets in vast areas of orchards, forest lands, mangroves, rivers, etc, and nobody has ever taken note of this. It is going brazenly for settlement zones, for what? These settlement areas are basically playground for the rich and famous. They have not taken care of sewage, waste disposal, roads, or any other infrastructure into consideration while changing zones. There has been no planner of repute or architect of repute on the Town and Country Planning Board to come out on some consensus on this plan. This planning is nothing but a plan to trigger off real estate boom in this state and the authorities seem to have done that. We would not be able to reverse the long term devastation that this plan would cause. Would not your opposition to the Regional Plan hinder all-round development of the state? This is the common allegation made against us that we are against development, which is basically sidetracking the issue we have been pursuing. Nobody is against development, clearly we want development and also we want the marginalised sections of society to also come to the bandwagon and enjoy the fruit of a liberalized economy. Nobody in one's right senses opposes development. What we are opposed to is the opaque, illegal manner by which the plan was approved and notified. If the plan was wonderful why was it not placed for public scrutiny before it was notified? How is it that all the assets of Goa like beaches, forests etc, which make Goa what it is, being destroyed? What development are we talking of? Is it the development of only rich and privileged, so that they can have holiday homes, etc? The authorities have failed to take care of essential services to poor and underprivileged living in the rural areas. Even motorable roads are unavailable in so many interior villages of Goa. If the government loves the people of Goa and carries out development it has to be for everybody and not for a few, with only profits in mind. Could you identify the places where motorable roads do not exist in Goa? There are so many interiors which do not have motorable roads, in Sanguem and Sattari that our group has visited. It is not just roads but other basic facilities too. I would state that people have to walk miles to fetch water. We want the government to focus on all round development. Will your opposition not hinder industrial development? Please do not accuse us of being anti-development. We are not against development, we only oppose the regional plan. We have suggested to the captains of industry, who think we are against development, that since we believe that this plan is illegal let us get it scrapped and let the captains of industry, tourism sector, environmentalists, planners, engineers, etc, sit across and draw a plan that shall be acceptable to all. It is alleged that a number of people in the opposition movement against the Regional Plan have been beneficiaries of piecemeal conversions. How would you react to this? You see, piecemeal conversions that have taken place are for houses, bungalows. We are not talking about that; we are talking about large devastation that would be caused if the plan is implemented. The devastation is evident now. Despite the High Court order the hill cutting is going on, the forest burning is going on. The people involved in development of these lands are violating every rule of the land and are accusing us of being anti-development. Over 2,600 hectares have been converted since 2001 till 2005, using a particular section of Town and Country Planning Act which allows it. Do you think this is illegal or not? The point is that if you are converting land for genuine settlement purposes, for genuine industrial purposes, etc, then no one should have a problem with such changes. What we are talking about is the blanket permission that is sought to be given in the Regional Plan for the entire state to be turned red, which would lead to enormous social problems. Besides, the authorities have failed to take care of basic infrastructure facilities. First they need to take care of infrastructure facilities and then think of settlements. Are you opposed to settlement areas in the talukas of Sanguem, Sattari, Canacona, etc, or just those in developed talukas of Tiswadi, Salcete, Bardez, Ponda, and Mormugao? We are opposing the Regional Plan 2011, which was not made available for public scrutiny, accountability, and without taking the views of the local bodies. Who do you think is to be blamed for not taking public view, is it the Town and Country Planning Ministry or the government as a whole? Whoever is supposed to be responsible in the government is supposed to take cognizance. Despite the fact that there has been so much of public outcry against the Regional Plan, the government has chosen not to react to this particular situation that clearly shows that either they are not bothered or they are buying time. How could a solution be found to the issue? Ours is not a political movement, we are not against any particular person. Not withstanding the fact that the public emotions ran high at the public meeting, we are not against any individual, or a minister, nor against a government or a political party. We are not here to fight a political battle. We are opposing the Regional Plan because we feel that it is detrimental to the future of the state and we would like a discussion on it. But the government should first scrap it and then take a fresh view to redraft the plan taking into consideration suggestions of all concerned. We would like to be a part when they reach a solution eventually. -------------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times Panorama 31/12/06 page 2 -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ----------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ----------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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