Citizens throng Lohia Maidan, demand scrapping of RP 2021

Margao: Demanding the immediate scrapping of the draft Regional Plan (RP) 2021that is expected to be notified by the state government soonGoans for Sustainable Development, a citizens' group, on Friday cautioned that if the government continues to avoid fulfilling its pre-election promise of scrapping the RP and drafting a new one, the electorate will be left with no option but to vote out the present regime.

At a well-attended public meeting held at Lohia Maidan, Margao, three resolutions were unanimously moved by member Shakuntala Mesquita, demanding that the government 'scrap RP 2021 and impose a moratorium on all constructions, except individual family dwellings, until the new RP is in place; to collect and update relevant data on all environment, economic and social sectors based upon which the new RP will be prepared; to hand over relevant data to village ward committees'; and to involve people in preparing the plan in accordance with the Constitution of India.'

Urging Goans to examine the performance of the present government and vote accordingly in the 2017 polls, Agnelo Rodrigues of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) warned that the 80,000 local fishermen would not hesitate to take to the streets if the state continues to ignore their grievances. "Local fishermen are being severely affected by governmental decisions, specially with regard to the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) as permissions to renovate their premises take six months, while those seeking to construct new structures obtain approvals overnight with instructions from the central government," Rodrigues said.

Requesting citizens to unite and raise their voices before it was too late, Fr Eremito Rebello cautioned that Goans would be outnumbered in the future elections as the demography of the state was slowly changing. He further issued a clarion call to the audience, gathered from various parts of the state, to save Goa before it was totally doomed, by seeking a people's government. Fr Rebello reiterated his charge that the state BJP government was anti-Goan and vowed to continue with their struggle till the end.

While Abhijeet Prabhudessai of Curtorim explained, through a PowerPoint presentation, the various flaws in the present RP 2021, Siddharth Karapurkar of Navelim pointed out how the proposed expansion of NH 17 to a width of 80 metres would affect their villages. Karapurkar further slammed Union defence minister Manohar Parrikar for his U-turn on the issue after siding with the protesting villagers. He sought that outline development plans (ODP) be included in the RP.

Others who voiced their apprehensions and grievances included Prajal Sakhardade of Panaji, Diana Tavares of Lotoulim, Erwill Barretto of Canacona, Fatima Fernandes of Siolim, Ramkrishna Jhalmi of Ponda, Aires Passanha of Cavelossim, Freddy Fernandes of Quitol, Ravindra Velip of Cavrem and Zarina da Cunha of Nuvem. Canacona local Bardroy Barretto, the director of the award-winning Konkani film 'Nachom-ia Kumpasar', also lent his support to the activists.

Curtorim Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, was the only elected representative present at the meeting. Former South Goa Aam Admi Party (AAP) candidate Swati Kerkar, Shiv Sena leader Ajitsingh Rane, NCP's George Barretto and others, AAP volunteers wearing their traditional topis could be spotted distributing fliers in their efforts to attract new party members.

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