Do you support the people's agitation against mega projects and why?

Street Voices
Do you support the people's agitation against mega projects and why?
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PANJIM: As new projects come to light at the cost of environmental destruction, protests have intensified in major hotspots such as Sancoale, Old Goa, Reis Magos, Pomburpa, Divar Island and Tivim. The people of Goa appear to have lost trust in the government, as permission to execute these projects has been granted by the TCP department, when whichever party was in power. Hence, people have resorted to protest. In this edition of Street Voices, Herald TV asked people whether they support the people's agitation against mega projects and why.

Surely, I support the people’s agitation against mega project. In a democracy, the voice of the people, the voice of dissent matter. The government should not act as a deaf government. The government is elected by the people, for the people and that is why government has to act according to the views of the people who are from the area. Now there is a tremendous churning among the people of Goa and villagers are increasingly coming out in voices of dissent due to the infiltration of builders, says city advocate Rui Ferreira.

Now government seems to be of the builders, by the builders and for the builders instead of being a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The Goa Panchayat Raj Act says, the Gram Sabha is the final authority. The government has turned the Town and Country Planning Department into a Total Commission Party. They are only becoming land dealers and land agents. People’s views matters because till today you don’t have proper infrastructure. You don’t have proper water supply in Goa 24x7. You don’t have road infrastructure. You create huge roads and you see the number of accidents taking place.
Rui Ferreira, Advocate
It's heartening to see people from North and South Goa coming together to fight against these mega projects especially in eco-sensitive areas. This unity is going to be the key towards achieving our goal not only against these mega projects but also against those politicians, bureaucrats, and "yes-men" roped into technical committees to blatantly and shamelessly connive with the real estate lobby and the powers that be.
Patricia Pinto, Former Councillor, CCP
The mega projects that have come into Goa are on non-development zones (NDZ), which against the Central laws which protect the environment. Secondly, in many cases permissions have not been taken. Thirdly, these project have come about without the participation of the people. Basically, these projects are an outcome of corruption. And this does not contribute to the welfare of Goa. In fact it destroys Goa. So we oppose these mega projects.
Dr. Sabina Martins, Goa Bachao Abhiyan
Herald Goa
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