Abhiyan to hold chain-in-the-rain protest today
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JUNE 10
Reminding the people the fight against Government’s failure in its commitment to finalise the Regional Plan 2021 was on, the Goa Bachao Abhiyan has made a fervent appeal to the masses to join in the “chain-in-the-rain” protest that begins at the Mandovi Hotel tomorrow, Friday, from 4 pm onwards.
GBA Convenor Sabina Martins reiterated the RP issue affects all Goans and as such it becomes all the more pertinent they stepped out of heir houses to stand in the rain and assert they were not happy with the way things were going presently.
She once again reminded the Government it had assured the people taluka plans for Pernem and Canacona would be finalised by March 31, 2010, but more than two months have passed and there was no sign.
At a press conference on Tuesday Treasurer GBA Annand Madganvkar expressed fears that the finalisation of the RP was being unnecessarily delayed to facilitate a number of building projects lined up. It may be because there is a strong provision in the RP to save eco-sensitive zones which is not there in RP 2001 presently in force, he had mentioned.
The GBA has also chided the Flying Squads constituted by the Government as mere eye wash. Martins stated they were given to understand the squads would operate for 24 hours, but calls made on 1077 after 6 pm on Monday had not yielded any results.
Martins said the GBA expects people to come out in large numbers because the real fight is when the people show their angst and concern and the GBA was just a catalyst to take that fight forward.
