21 Feb 2018 | 05:49am IST
Tony resigns as GPPDA member
The MLA put in his papers following strong opposition from residents of Calapur-St Cruz to the inclusion of portions of the village in GPPDA
PANJIM: St Cruz MLA Antonio (Tony) Fernandes on Tuesday resigned as member of the newly-constituted Great Panjim Planning and Development Authority (GPPDA).
He submitted his resignation to the government, following strong opposition from residents of Calapur-St Cruz to the inclusion of portions of the village in the GPPDA.
On Sunday, Fernandes had assured the protesting villagers that he will fight for the cause along with them after resigning as a member from the GPPDA.
“As assured to the people of my constituency that I will resign from GPPDA, I have already submitted my resignation as a member. I will remain with the people of St Cruz to fulfill their wishes,” Fernandes said.
A massive protest had been held on Sunday by residents of Calapur, St Cruz and Curca-Bambolim villages, against the inclusion of the villages in the PDA stating it is against the wishes of the residents of the villages and against the resolution passed in the village panchayat.
Fernandes was elected to the Assembly in the last Assembly elections on a Congress ticket and was supported by Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, now chairman of GPPDA.
The Village Development Committee of St Cruz has welcomed the MLA’s decision and said they expect his support to save the village from land sharks.
