Activists call upon Parra villagers to petition govt to scrap PDA

MAPUSA: Speakers at the public awareness program on PDA in Parra on Sunday called upon the local to sign a petition requesting the government to scrap PDA and to save Goa from destruction.

Under the banner of ‘Parra against PDA’, activist Benedict Pereira along other social activists held an awareness programme, which was attended by Fr Savio Fernandes, Roshan Mathias, Mahesh Naik, Rama Kankonkar, Felly Gomes and over 100 other people from the Calangute constituency.

Benedict Pereira said, “All the villages that are included in PDA are agitating and objecting to PDA and RP. Parra has a population of 4449 people and we don’t want turn Parra into Dubai and Parra does not merit a PDA.”  

Fr Savio Fernandes said, “We need people who are aware of what is going on in the State and keep an eye on working of the State and the decisions taken by the government. People need to become aware and well informed about the decisions taken by the government. Before coming to any conclusion, we need to understand its effects on environment, resources, livelihood and we need to have information from the knowledgeable person regarding the same.”

Mahesh Dattaram Naik, an activist from Margao said, “We had objected to RP in 2007 when Congress was in power and during that time even the present chief minister had objected to RP and forced the government to keep it aside. During that time, the BJP had also promised that if it comes to power it would scrap RP. However, after coming to power in 2012, BJP is trying to implement RP in Goa. Presently when CM is not in Goa and already the state is not functioning properly, TCP Minister Vijay Sardessai brought the RP in to picture which is designed without taking the people into confidence. It is planned by the ministers according to their requirements.”

Social activist Roshan Mathias said, “When the TCP Act was amended, Goa was a union territory, but now this Act is outdated since Goa is no longer a union territory but a State. We need to demand inclusion of 73rd and 74th amendment in TCP and remove all the villages from PDA. If we want to remove Parra from PDA, then we need to request the government by signing petition and raising our voice against PDA.”

Environmentalist Claude Alvares said, “RP for Parra was designed in 2009 after taking the locals into confidence and keeping in mind the topography of the village. However, when it was forwarded to government, it was rejected. Panchayat is the supreme authority to take decisions of village development. Parra is the only village which passed a resolution in gram sabha that if government imposes any project which is not as per the Parra regional Plan, then, it will be rejected. However, this resolution was never implemented since the panchayat itself is not proper.

Activist Rama Kakonkar said, “The TCP minister says that require vertical development, greater Margao, greater Panjim and greater Mapusa for more and more structures. There are around one lakh homes in Goa which are vacant. Before planning any vertical development, he should find out why these one lakh houses are vacant. Before giving any speech on Opinion poll, there are 18 villages whose opinion is objecting PDA and then decide about PDA. If CM is so much concerned about Goa, then let the government fall and let re-election takes place. No matter what allegations are made and activists are booked under different section the fight against PDA will not stop until it is scrapped. Its every Goan responsibility to take step towards saving our mother land from getting raped.”