TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: The Calangute Candolim Citizens Forum on Monday resolved to oppose the Planning and Development Authority for Calangute and Candolim villages.
Co-convener Anthony D’Souza read the resolution opposing the enhancement of the Planning and Development Authority in Calangute and Candolim and if need be decided to approach the High Court or the Supreme Court.
Earlier, addressing the meeting convened in front of the Calangute Panchayat, former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes said the village areas cannot be included in the Planning & Development Authority, but only urban areas and even if so the powers of the panchayat remains with the local body.
“The files will be routed to PDA instead of TCP for permissions, but the licensing authority will be the panchayats,” stated Fernandes.
“It is being said that the houses in CRZ will be regularized under PDA, which is totally incorrect and false. The houses can be regularized only by the panchayats,” added Fernandes.
Adv Radharao Gracias highlighted the ills of the PDA and urged the villagers of Calangute and Candolim to unitedly oppose the decision of the State government.
Extending support to the villagers, Adv Gracias said that the court is not the solution for the agitation, but it could be the last resort.
Joseph Sequeira, Adv Thelman Pereira and Clothildes Braganza spoke.
Anthony D’Souza welcomed the gathering, Vinayak Salgaonkar compered the meeting, while Ramkrishna Kerkar proposed the vote of thanks.
