Candolim, Calangute locals prepare for agitation

The villagers along with Calangute and Candolim panchayat members had a joint meeting following suggestions from the villagers to challenge the decision of the State government. It was opined that a village-level agitation should be the first step in opposing the decision of the government to include the two coastal villages in the NGPDA. 

They felt that if the government failed to accede to the demands of villagers from Candolim and Calangute, their next course would be an agitation in Panjim.

Speaking on the sidelines of the joint meeting, former Calangute MLA and Candolim leader Agnelo Fernandes said: “We have decided to support the villagers of Candolim and Calangute to oppose the decision of the State government to include the two villages in NGPDA.”

“With the PDA in place, the people especially Mundkars will be the losers, as they would be entitled to only 200 sq mtrs of land under Mundkarial Rights. There will be additional burden on the people through taxes, fees and for every sale or purchase of plot, an NOC from the PDA will be required,” stated Fernandes.

“If there has to be a sub-division among the family members, road and drainage system will have to be in place as infrastructure. The builders will be the ultimate beneficiaries as FAR will be increased and they will not be required to leave set-backs, while going in for construction of huge projects. The PDA will however not be able to curtail the powers of the panchayats as the licensing authority will be the local body.”

Joseph Sequeira alleged that Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has been misleading the villagers of Calangute and Candolim saying their illegal structures in CRZ will be regularised. “But the fact is the CRZ areas does not come under the purview of PDA, as it has its own laws,” said Sequeira.

“For the last 10 years, we fought cases of 840 structures and got it regularised. The CRZ areas will continue to remain outside the purview of PDA. We do not need the PDA to plan developments in our village, as we have already planned the required projects like market, bus stand, etc, which are pending for approvals,” he added.

Fernandes and Sequeira said they will take forward the agitation of the people of the two villages of Candolim-Calangute under the banner of Calangute Candolim Citizens Action Committee Forum with co-convenors Anthony D’Souza and Ramkrishna Kerkar.