PANJIM, FEB 17
After facing much criticism from civil rights groups, Government on Thursday reiterated micro-industrial zones and eco-tourism zones were created in the Regional Plan (RP) 2021 to contain migration within the State.
A senior Government officer said the concept of micro-industrial and eco-tourism zones in the RP-21 recommended in the backward talukas was an attempt to stop migration from one area to another in search of employment.
“Why a boy from Canacona should travel to Verna for employment? If we create job opportunities in his own taluka, he need not travel,” the officer, who is part of the State Level Committee (SLC) told Herald.
The officer said nearly half of the population from each taluka migrates to some other place in search of employment.
He said the RP 2021was a scientific exercise. “The micro-industrial and eco-tourism zones were proposed keeping in view the existing population,” he said adding that there was a basis for every recommendation.
The Pilerne Citizen Forum (PCF) has chided the Government claiming massive land grab in the RP-21.
However, the officer, who chose to remain anonymous, disagrees with the contention of several civil society groups. “Every decision taken by the government has some scientific reason. If we have acquired huge tracts of land in some areas, there are instances where even after demands from the panchayats for more land under different zone, the proposals have been refused,” he claimed.
Giving an example, he said that Loliem panchayat wanted one-crore square metres land to be reserved for industrial purpose, which was turned down by the Task Force.
The officer stated that the State Government will form a policy to decide on whom and how to allow the use of land.
