MARGAO: That the government has gone ahead and notified the Regional Plan and taken other decisions detrimental to the future of Goa despite the warning given by them on April 27, 2018 at a public meeting at Lohia Maidan, Goencho Avaaz announced the second phase of their agitation with a public meeting at Vasco on July 22.
Briefing media persons the two co-convenors of Goencho Avaz Capt Viriato Fernandes and Swapnesh Sherlekar lamented that the government had not taken cognizance of their warning and taken some steps that were not in the interest of Goans but aimed at helping certain lobbies and themselves.
The transfer of development rights which is introduced now, they said, was aimed at helping the political class that has amassed huge properties to develop it. “When there can be no development on fields or hills how can areas in these places even have development rights?” asked Capt Viriato stressing that this is a way to help all politicians who have got properties clandestinely.
The decision to allow development upto 50 mts from the High Tide Line proves how confused this government is, he said pointing out that last year the government demolished houses close to the beach at Baina and now they are going to allow development there.
“Who will compensate the poor Goans who lost their houses last year?” he asked.
Referring to the Mopa airport, Swapnesh said the government wanted to cut more trees in that one project than those cut in the last five years. “We will definitely not allow the government to cut 50,000 trees at Mopa,” he said adding that land filling is also going on rampantly all over Goa.
“Does this government want to finish Goa before the end of its term is a question that comes to mind,” he said pointing out that if a government headed by an IIT graduate can do so much damage one can imagine how much destruction an IIT instituted in Goa would do.
Capt Viriato also pointed out that while the Fisheries Minister remained silent over the issue of formalin laced fish, three ministers rushed to the defence of the agents who indulged in this activity. “The people of Goa will teach them a befitting lesson,” he warned.
Disclosing that the bureaucrats had agreed with them and their disclosures in April, he said they expected some action to be taken by the chief minister after returning from his treatment but the chief minister failed to protect the interest of Goa and Goans. “There is only fott, fotting and fottingponn going on,” he quipped.
He said that they have asked the Congress, which is the opposition party and hence represents the voice of Goa, to raise all the issues that will be discussed at Vasco. “We are waiting for the Congress to take up the various issues,” he said.
Both appealed to Goans to attend the meeting near Tilak Maidan at Vasco on July 22, at 3.30 pm where issues like the destruction of Kesarval spring, coal affecting Goa, nationalisation of Goan rivers, PDA/ODP, CRZ draft notification and regional plan will be discussed.
Replying to a question they indicated that the second list of politicians who got their lands converted to settlement zone may be exposed at the meeting in Vasco.
