TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: Defending the inclusion of Candolim and Calangute in the North Goa Planning & Development Authority (NGPDA), Calangute MLA Michael Lobo accused Candolim leaders of misleading people in the matter.
Lobo was reacting to recent statements by former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes and Calangute Panch Joseph Sequeira that the Candolim and Calangute panchayats and the people would step up their agitation over the inclusion of the two villages in the NGPDA.
Addressing media persons at his Calangute office, Lobo said, “Fernandes has said that with PDA in place, the villagers of Calangute and Candolim will lose about 100 sq mtrs of land under Mundkarial Act and they will have to pay higher taxes. However, the fact is that PDA has got nothing to do with the Mundkarial rights and there won’t be additional burden on villagers through taxes,” stated Lobo.
Lobo also refuted Sequeira’s claims that houses of locals coming under purview of CRZ would not and cannot be regularised under PDA.
“The former Calangute sarpanch conveniently forgets that the PDA has regularised the house of his spouse in Taleigao. If his spouse’s house can be regularised by PDA in CRZ area, why can’t houses of Calangute and Candolim locals be regularised?” he asked.
“The leaders of Calangute and Candolim are misleading the villagers to meet their selfish ends and continue their domination over the people for electoral gains. We will try to develop Calangute and Candolim villages in a planned manner by improving the good roads without touching the houses of locals and providing space for parking lots in Candolim,” said the Calangute MLA.
He claimed that the TCP rule had been beneficial to the panchayat leaders to carry out illegalities. “TCP officials never turned up for site inspections despite repeated complaints. The PDA will definitely serve the interests of the villagers of Calangute and Candolim,” he added.
Refuting the allegation that the builders will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the PDA, Lobo said, “The builders have been carrying out illegalities with the blessing of the panchayat leaders.” who
