VASCO: The Goa Foundation (GF) has decided to challenge the Draft Outline Development Plan (ODP) 2030 for the Vasco Planning Area prepared by the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA) in the High Court.
A press note issued by Cyril Fernandes, Human Rights activist and Chicalim villager mentioned that organisations such as Chicalim Bio-Crusaders, Chicalim Villagers Action Committee (CVAC), Goencho Avaaz, Chicalim Youth Farmers Club (CYFC), Dabolim Yuvak Sangh, Save Open Spaces (SOS), Village Groups of Goa and People Against Atrocities and Injustice (PAAI) have pledged to associate with Goa Foundation in this public interest litigation (PIL).
At a meeting held on Wednesday in Chicalim, Claude Alvares assured all help to the concerned stakeholders of Mormugao taluka who come under Vasco Planning Area of the MPDA.
The Chicalim Bio-Crusaders had invited GF and other like-minded organisations and individuals who have raised various issues with the MPDA on the Draft ODP 2030. Over 12 people representing 10 organisations attended the meeting.
Alvares was briefed by the participants on the ongoing ODP process and the illegalities observed in the draft ODP 2030 prepared by the MPDA. Issues such as change of zone of Chicalim khazan, private forest areas, agricultural tenanted lands and no development zones were discussed.
It was observed that the whole process of preparing ODPs since 2001 is erroneous and done without adopting the norms and practices as laid down in the Town and Country Planning Act and the other laws. Various Supreme Court judgements and guidelines have also been violated.
They also noted that the inclusion of the villages in the planning areas was in conflict with the Panchayati Raj Act, which empowers the gram sabha to plan the development of the village. However, by including the villages in the planning areas, this constitutional power of the villagers is appropriated by the PDA without any basis or justification to do so.
Later, it was unanimously decided to challenge the entire ODP exercise in the High Court with the assistance of GF.
Claude requested the Chicalim Panchayat VDC member Edwin Mascarenhas to prepare a chronology of the issues.
Cyril Fernandes, convenor of Chicalim Bio-Crusaders has been given the responsibility to identify the organisations and individuals who will be party to the petition.
Edwin Mascarenhas, Rev Dr Fr Bolmax Pereira, Adv Fr Michael Fernandes, Capt Viriato Fernandes, Cynthia Miranda, Roopa Naik, Pratap Mardolkar, Sanjay Mhalsekhar, Rui Manuel Araujo and John Philip Pereira also attended the meeting.
