Regional Plan: Goa Bachao Abhiyan

The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat lends an ear to the GBA delegation, which was led by Dr Sabina Martins, outside his official residence at Altinho on Thursday.

Dr Martins further said that Mr Kamat has called for suggestions as to how to reach out to the people vis-à-vis the Regional Plan, even as she said the GBA would keep a watch on what was happening to the RP 2021 and that it would help villagers in sorting out the problems related to planning of their villages. The GBA in a memorandum to the Chief Minister has also demanded that the government should adhere to "One Goa, One Plan" and that all the plans, including the outline development plans, should be part of the RP 2021. It has also demanded that amendment to Section 16/16A of the Town and country Planning Act be revoked forthwith. The GBA has also demanded that the list of the projects granted NOCs by the Goa T&CP department from the time of the draft Regional Plan 2021 for Goa was notified be made public by notification in official gazette and also the list of projects permitted under section 16/16A.

Earlier, the activists from various villages in the state along with the members of the GBA held demonstration outside the office of the T&CP department and later on presented a memorandum to the Chief Town Planner, Mr Morad Ahmed. They sought an assurance from him that all the construction projects would be stopped and their demands would be fulfilled. Mr Ahmed told the delegation that he has already forwarded some of their demands to the government and was waiting for its decision, even as he said that he would forward remainder of their grievances to the government for necessary action and directions.

After presenting the memorandum to the Chief Town Planner the 150-odd people marched to the official residence of the Chief Minister to meet him and seek an assurance from him, but Mr Kamat had left the residence for Margao just a few minutes before the delegation arrived following which the "angry" mob squatted before the bungalow. The GBA leaders then called the Chief Minister on his phone and urged him to return to Panaji to hear their grievances. The Chief Minister obliged them and returned to listen to their grievances. On his return he called for a delegation of the crowd and listened to them and gave "assurance" to it before leaving for Margao.