Team Herald
PANJIM: St Cruz villagers and the panchayat have condemned the statement made by Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vijai Sardesai that there should not be fear and anxiety in the minds of villagers due to the recently constituted Greater Panjim Planning and Development Authority (GPPDA).
Addressing the media in Panjim, villagers said, “Please keep us where we were in TCP. Our people have fear of PDA, of politicians creating nexus with the land mafia and compromising our village and its sustainable resource.”
St Cruz sarpanch Mariano Araujo said a copy of the panchayat resolution opposing the inclusion of a portion of the village in the GPPDA was sent to the minister on January 17, 2018. The sarpanch also clarified that the renewal of construction licecse for 10 villas near Bondvol lake was issued on May 5, 2017 before the last panchayat elections. Sardesai had claimed that while the panchayat has opposed the PDA and development in the periphery of Bondvol lake the licence was renewed by the same panchayat.
“Panchayat strongly condemns the statement made by TCP Minister and demands that all permissions given around Bondvol lake be cancelled,” Araujo said.
Replying to the minister’s statement that eco-sensitive areas will be protected, villagers said, “We want and know that eco-sensitive nature is well protected within the existing rules of the TCP Act in the village plan in force and we don’t want the new PDA to promise to enforce this. If the TCP Act falls short in enforcing such eco-sensitive nature in villages then PDA is not the solution.”
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Agitation against PDA politically motivated: Vijai
Terming the agitation as politically motivated, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai said that the Greater Panjim PDA has been formed after consensus and demands by locals. “Greater Panjim PDA is formed after consensus and demands by local representatives who have now developed cold feet. Agitation against PDA is politically motivated,” said the minister. “In a democracy you need to debate but in this case not even a representation was given to me but hype in media was created,” he added. “Consistency is the hallmark of good governance. Can’t change policies due to unfounded fear psychosis caused by vested interests with political intentions. I will engage with those with legitimate grievances. Bondvoll lake will be protected,” Sardesai added.
