Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) and other groups will launch an agitation on October 14 to protest against the delay in finalizing the Regional Plan 2021 by September, as assured by the Goa government. “We have decided at a consultative meeting in Margao to serve an ultimatum to the government to meet our demands …,” Sabina Martins, GBA convenor said.
GBA will hold a march from Azad Maidan to the chief minister`s official residence at Altinho to serve the ultimatum on the government. The participants in the protest march will assemble in the city at 4.30 pm on October 14. “The people`s patience is running out,” Martins added.
Pointing out that chief minister Digambar Kamat had assured the House during the recent monsoon session that the RP 2021 would be ready by September, the GBA convenor said that even `guidelines” to draw up the taluka plans have not been formulated. “Nor has the committee to amend the TCP Act for participatory planning held a meeting so far,” she added.
A memorandum seeking to protect the state from unplanned construction will demand notification of eco-sensitive zones marked in the draft RP 2021. Several villages have asked for VP3 status till the finalization of the RP 2021. The freeze on construction to 50 FAR should be maintained, the GBA stated. It will also demand implementation of high court orders which state that no NOC should be given for any new projects till the infrastructure and garbage disposal is in place.
In a bid to ensure participatory planning, the GBA also wants a suitable legislation enacted for the purpose.
The decision to revive the agitation was reached after a meeting in Margao, which was attended by representatives of a number of groups from Benaulim, Carmona, Cansaulim, Margao, Nuvem, Raia, Verna, and other villages from Salcete and Mormugao talukas and also north Goa. Meanwhile, it was decided to hold street corner meetings in villages as a preparation for the protest march on Thursday.
GBA has threatened to intensify the agitation if there is no positive response from the government to the memorandum.