PANJIM: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday staged a protest demanding a stay on the operation of the Regional Plan 2021 (RP21). 

An AAP delegation led by convener Elvis Gomes submitted a memorandum to Chief Town Planner (CTP) Rajesh Naik demanding that the order dated March 28, putting into operation RP 21, be revoked and that the plan be kept in abeyance. They asked TCP to initiate the process to draft RP31 taking people into confidence. 

Speaking to media persons Gomes said the demand that the RP 21 be kept in abeyance is because it is drafted without taking people into confidence and there was no baseline study conducted. “We want the government to put restrictions and prohibitions of both RP 2001 and RP21 in force and initiate the process with people’s participation to draft RP 31. We also want amendment to the Town and Country Planning Act, by implementing the 73rd and 74th amendment fully.” 

Gomes alleged that politicians from all parties are brothers in arms, working with their middlemen to sell Goa by converting properties in the guise of RP21. The party has threatened to take to the streets and intensify their movement if the government fails to act on their demand. 

“RP 2021 is unacceptable because there is no baseline data available with the government on water security, socio-cultural development, sustainable economy, environment, future challenges and sea level rise. Any long term planning prepared without baseline data is bound to have catastrophic consequences in future for the State and its people,” the party said in their memorandum. 

“RP 2021 is unacceptable to the people because large areas are shown as settlement and industries in our villages including over forests slopes, sand dunes, water bodies and prime agricultural land. This is set to change the very character of Goa beyond recognition,” they said.

The party further said that RP 2021 is unacceptable as it so designed with interests of real estate speculators that makes land a commodity and will destroy the environment, economy society and social fabric of Goa irreversibly.