That was rather quick. The concepts that are going to be the fulcrum of the Regional Plan 2031 have been passed with little of constructive debate in the Assembly.
The Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, bringing in accommodation rights, transferable development rights and transferable development rights for posterity, has been voted on and passed in the Assembly. These revolutionary ideas, once incorporated into the Act, are going to be the basis for the Regional Plan 2031, that the government is planning to formulate. Juxtaposed against the polemics the provisions of the Bill generated in civil society, there was little debate in the House on the Bill before it was passed. With the ruling benches united in the passage of the Bill, the disjointed opposition faltered and permitted the passage of the contentious provisions.
Pressing for a division despite being well aware that it didn’t have the numbers to vote the Bill out, Congress with 16 MLAs in the House could get just 15 votes against the amendment Bill. Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monserrate was not present, proving yet again that divisions within the Congress do exist. But that was not the only embarrassment for the party. It demanded in the House that the Bill be sent to the House Committee for deliberations, but moved no amendments to the Bill to prove its seriousness. Was Congress only playing to the galleries, creating a ruckus in the House so that the people watching the proceedings on television at home would get the feeling that the opposition party was at work?
A day before the Bill was to come up in the Assembly the party had come out strongly against the Bill saying it would help the backdoor zoning of the Regional Plan, put huge pressure on the demands of water and electricity and jeopardise the interest of locals by an influx of foreign players and would convert Goa into a concrete jungle. But when it came to the crucial discussion and vote in the House on the Bill, Congress was unable to translate this anguish and reasoning into an impassioned debate that could get the bill sent to a House Committee or perhaps even voted out. Did Congress get its strategy and floor management wrong in the case?
Congress, as a responsible opposition, had its opportunity to stall the TCP amendment Bill if it so desired. Now saying that they will explore all available options to continue the fight against the Bill means little. The Bill has been passed, the Governor’s assent is awaited, and it will be law soon. So what are these options? Can Congress elucidate on these, especially since its own State president has said that once the proposed amendments receive the assent of the Governor it will be the final signature on the sale deed to sell Goa? If the party did feel so strongly, it didn’t demonstrate this in the Assembly by its actions.
The fact is that Congress is a party that is increasingly appearing to be at odds with itself. Its actions disclaim its assertions, just as was witnessed on Monday when the TCP amendment Bill was taken up for discussion. Theatrics apart, the party’s floor management is rather suspect. It slipped in the formalin in fish issue, forcing adjournments in the House proceedings on two days, but again there was little of positive debate that came out of it.
The party needs to regroup quickly if it plans to play the role of a constructive opposition rather than an obstructionist one. There is little time left, as this Assembly session is ending quickly. If it is fumbling now, why was it demanding a longer session?
