PANJIM: The people of Pernem on Friday won a major battle as the State government cancelled the controversial Pernem zoning plan. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vishwajit Rane announced cancellation of the zoning plan, adding that the people of Pernem would be taken into confidence while drafting the new plan.
”Government has decided to cancel Pernem Zoning Plan keeping in mind the sentiments of the people of Pernem,” Sawant said.
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“My government is committed to the development of Pernem and it will be done only by taking people of Pernem into confidence,” the Chief Minister said, in the presence of Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar.
“Many people from Pernem met me regarding the zoning plan of Pernem. I had discussion with TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane and it was decided to scrap the plan,” Sawant said.
On the other hand, Rane said, “Draft zoning plan of Pernem ceases to exist as on date. You can use any word, abeyance or scrap. But it has no meaning because as on date the plan does not exist anymore,” he said indirectly referring to the demand made by the Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) to denotify the zoning plan as per the provisions of TCP Act, 1974.
Rane further said that as and when the government decides to formulate a plan for Pernem taluka, a consultative process will be followed by taking the people into confidence and keeping politics aside.
The TCP Minister also assured that orchard lands in Pernem where people have built their houses, will be corrected as settlement zone and all these structures will be protected. It is required to protect the houses of people living there, he added.
“Zoning plan is not in existence and there is no need for discussion on it. I have kept it aside. Let us make a new beginning,” Rane said in a video message released to the media.
Alleging that some elements were trying to misguide the people, he said that Pernem taluka is getting developed due to infrastructure projects like Mopa international airport and AYUSH Hospital.
Rane had earlier extended the date of giving suggestions on the draft zoning plan of Pernem by a month and later announced that the plan would be kept in abeyance.
Alleging indiscriminate conversion of land parcels into settlement zones, people of Pernem were up in arms against the draft zoning plan notified by the TCP department. Villagers had also met the Chief Minister demanding scrapping of the zoning plan.
Justice to People of Pernem: MLA
PERNEM: Reacting to the government’s decision to cancel the zoning plan, Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar said that people of Pernem got justice, Arolkar, who spearheaded the villagers agitation against the controversial zoning plan thanked the government for paying heed to their demands.
”We are for development done by taking people into confidence,” Arolkar added.
