Members want govt to start process of collecting data, carry out surveys
MARGAO
The gram sabha of Sao Jose de Areal Village Panchayat on Sunday has unanimously demanded new Regional Plan for Goa, resolving that the new RP 2035 must be prepared at the gram sabha level, and the government must immediately start the process of collecting data and carrying out surveys so that the gram sabhas have all the data necessary for the preparation of the new plans and maps.
The gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Carmina Fernandes has further resolved for immediate revocation of Section 17 (2) and 39A of TCP Act. The gram sabha has further demanded that the Order of Secretary (TCP) dated 28.3.2018 bringing RP 2021 into force shall be revoked so that the restrictions of both RP 2001 and RP 2021 shall be in force until the new Regional Plan RP 2035 (or RP 2031) is finally prepared and notified.
It was further resolved that copies of the resolution shall be forwarded by Sao Jose de Areal village panchayat to the Governor of Goa, Chief Minister of Goa, TCP Minister, Leader of Opposition, and the Chief Town Planner asking for immediate implementation of the ‘Will of the People’.
Participating in the discussions on the Regional Plan, members pointed out that planning of land use must be done at the gram sabha level involving all villagers, to ensure sustainable, planned development. No land use plan can be made without the community knowledge, values, and public interest possessed by the local community, they said, adding “after the 73rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution, it is the Constitutional right of all local residents to participate in all planning processes”.
It was pointed out by the members that land use changes can only be proposed in public Interest of the village and with prior consent of the villagers, without affecting future generations. Land use planning is for the interest of the citizens and future generations, and not for real estate speculators to make a quick buck and leave the State economies, environment, and society destroyed irreversibly.
Gram sabha member Fidelis Fredy Travasso sought to know from the Chair whether any zone has been changed under the newly introduced provisions Sec 17 (2) and 39A of TCP Act, 1974, demanding that the panchayat challenge the matter and not to issue any construction licences in that area.
On pollution from the carbon factory, the gram sabha members raised their voices and told the Chair to write to the Goa State Pollution Control Board and also to the Central Pollution Control Board, Department of Environment and Climate Change and also to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and demanded for an inspection at the earliest.
