Citizens want new regional plan to save environment

Panaji: A group of activists and citizens staged a peaceful protest at Old Goa on Saturday, urging Goa govt to formulate a new Regional Plan. They expressed deep concern over the rampant destruction of Goa’s forests, fields, and hills under the guise of development, adding that these environmental treasures are at risk of disappearing, threatening Goa’s distinctive character.

“Extensive tracts of land, measuring in lakhs of square metres, are undergoing conversion to accommodate large-scale development. The formation of a new Regional Plan is crucial to prevent unauthorised land conversions and regulate these transformations effectively,” said activist Ramrao Wagh.

Sanjay Naik, a Bhoma resident, said that there was an alarming trend of “outsiders” acquiring Goa’s hills and that govt was facilitating land conversions and granting permissions illegally for mega projects.

“If we have a regional plan, then govt would have mandatorily involved local representatives in the decision-making. We need to press for a new plan, or else govt and outsiders will exploit us and destroy our green zones. It’s time for Goans to unite and raise their voice,” Naik said.

AAP’s Amit Palekar also joined the protest, calling for a master plan for the Old Goa heritage site. “If govt approved the request for a comprehensive master plan, unauthorised construction of bungalows would not occur in the heritage zone,” he said. Palekar added that it was important to have a systematic approach towards development, stating that this objective could only be achieved through the implementation of a fresh regional plan.


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