Team Herald 

MARGAO: Nine organisations across Goa have come together and filed a joint petition against the Regional Plan 2021 on Wednesday. 

These organisations include Federation of Rainbow Warriors, Goencho Avaaz, Betqui Candola Samvardhan Samitee, Goykarancho Aawaz, Curtorkarancho Ekvott, Poinguinkarancho Ekvott, Veling Priol Cuncoliem Nagrik Kruti Samiti, Candolim Residents and Consumer Forum, Revolutionary Goans. The group has made Chief Secretary and Chief Town Planner as respondents in the petition.

Abhijit Prabhudesai of Rainbow Warriors informed Herald that they have filed the PIL challenging the March 28 order of the TCP which operationalised the RP 2021.

"We have prayed that the government be directed to collect data, change the law to allow grass root participation, etc. Meanwhile, we have asked that the RP 2021 be kept on hold as per the TCP order of June 4, 2012", he said.

With regards to the case-to-case basis for land conversion and TDR law, Prabhudesai informed that they will file a separate petition. We had asked for documents under RTI related to TDR and case-to-case basis laws but they have not given the same to us. We have filed a first appeal", he said.  

Prabhudesai said they have been collecting information since the last many years and have consulted Adv Gayatri Singh along with her junior lawyer Ronita from Mumbai, who are specialised in urban planning and will appear on their behalf. 

"We are hoping for quick justice", he said.

Captain Viriato Fernandes of Goencho Avaaz said, “After engaging with the government for the last few months to drop the RP 2021, and not getting a positive response,  we the people of Goa have been forced to knock on the doors of the High Court of Bombay at Goa to set aside the draconian and illegally conceived RP 2021." 

“Goencho Avaaz will go the extra mile to fight this corrupt government that is destroying this land of our ancestors, the land that we have vowed to preserve for our future generation,", he said.