PANJIM: The Goa BachaoAbhiyan (GBA) has urged Chief Minister PramodSawant and Speaker Ramesh Tawadkarto expunge the remarks passed against Goa Foundation andArchitect Dean D’Cruz inorderto ensure the high standard of democratic functioning.
Referring to remarks passedagainst Architect Dean D’Cruz and NGO Goa Foundation on July 27, the GBA said that the words ‘Fraud’ was used with no supporting proof, along with a threat suggesting ‘Blacklisting’ and issuing a ‘Circular’ to withhold future permissions to any projects connected to D’Cruz. The charge was made with several references to his being on the State-Level Committee (SLC) for the Regional Plan 2021 (RP 2021).
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GBA convenor Sabina Martins said that RP2021 followed a process of village-level involvement in preparing the drafts, through ward-level committees, approved by participative gram sabhas and notified after a three-and-half-year process. Two committees were formed to guide and formulate the RP2021, the Task Force and the SLC each having about 10 members which included former senior town planner Edgar Ribeiro and renowned architect Charles Correa, Martins pointed out.
The GBA stated that it was disturbing to seea Minister levellingpersonal discrimination rather than proof-based, legal and statutory process. It was a bad precedent of slandering, threatening and singling out an individual from a government-appointed committee 12 years later. “It means any individual who gives time and effort to government projects is unsafe from personal vendetta at any point in future, with ministers using the constitutional stage to target individuals at whims without following due process,” said Martins.
Stating that the allegations were made without proof and disregard for people’s participation in planning, Martins said, “We need leadership that discharges duties with gravitas required of his charge. Planning requires vision as it affects our future and is too important to be set to individual interests.As voters, we look to your upholding democracy and rule of law for Goa.”
