MARGAO: The Friday gathering of people at Margao’s Lohia maidan to oppose the Planning and Development Authorities is gathering momentum as teams of social activists and members of consumer forums, green activists and others have begun canvassing in villages and towns. Some South Goa villages are being approached by groups of activists to mobilise crowds for the meeting. Tribal leaders, green brigade activists, representatives from various villages will be speaking at the meeting.
“While most Church offices in Salcete have displayed details of the rally on their notice board, they’re not really making announcements at Sunday masses because there’s no official communication from the Bishop’s office in support of the rally and to oppose the Regional Plan 2021,” explained a Fabrica member of the Holy Spirit Church.
Fr Joseph Fernandes, earlier at Grace Church and now at Verna Church explained that since the Bishop’s office is yet to send any letter of support, the church office in Verna is in a dilemma since they would like to protest the RP 2021 opening to save the village from destruction but they will wait and watch.
Individually, priests from Navelim, Cuncolim, Chinchinim, Velim, Chandor, Davorlim, Cavelossim, Varca, Carmona and most parts of Salcete will make their presence at the rally, but to not politicise the issue. Unlike in other talukas in South Goa, many priests have refrained from making announcements urging people to go to the rally unlike the protests for the Regional Plan in 2007-08, stated Charles Dias who’s parish made announcements urging people to come in large numbers for the rally.
Sources said that most churches have read the invitation to the meeting.
Captain Viriato Fernandes-led Goencho Avaaz is all set to bring the battle against the RP 2021 and the anti-PDA movement to Salcete on April 27 after protesting at Panjim earlier this month. And the movement is working on a multiple approach support, including garnering support from priests, Catholic organisations and parts of the Church.
“We have the support of the Fr Savio Fernandes-led Center for Social Justice and Peace, one of the main arms of the Catholic Church in Goa and we will protest and expose how RP 2021 is about settlement zones on our river fronts, agricultural land and along our water bodies making Goa’s villages vulnerable to concrete jungles,” stated Captain Fernandes who was returning from Porvorim to Vasco late Monday night after meeting various delegations of people while the CSJP confirmed its support to the rally on April 27.
While Fr Zico Pereira, stated that he believes that the Church will indeed support this cause but a change doesn’t necessarily come only from the Church support but from community solidarity.
Speakers at the meeting plan to speak on the Special Status demand. The issue of river nationalsation, coal hub, RP 2021 and Mopa are also set to be taken up at the meeting.
