Team Herald
PANJIM: In view of the illegal constructions rampantly mushrooming across the State, Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) has sought an appointment with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to urge him to act against illegalities and corruption in government departments.
According to Goa Bachao Abhiyan Convenor Sabina Martins, the GBA held meetings in Margao and Panaji to take stock of the illegal conversions of land especially of eco sensitive zones and decided to further spread awareness and rally against illegalities and corrupt practices.
“An appointment has been sought with the Chief Minister to apprise him of the details as he claims that he is unaware of the permissions granted and the corrupt acts of officers in the government,” Martins said.
Last month, Goa Bachao Abhiyan had urged Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai to withhold assent to all amendments to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act being passed by the Goa Assembly at a fast pace. A delegation of GBA had met the Governor and apprised him of the planning issues plaguing the State. The GBA members had sought the intervention of the Governor to oversee the implementation of the Constitutional mandate for planning as per section 243 ZD. The GBA brought to the notice of the Governor various amendments made to the Town and Country Planning Act like 16B, 17(2), 39A, and IPB Act, which it said, was contrary to the participatory planning process.
“These amendments had resulted in massive destruction of eco-sensitive zones and the negative fallouts faced by people like flooding and landslides to cite a few,” Martins had stated.
Earlier, the GBA had called upon the people to be vigilant of the land conversions in their area and report to authorities concerned. The government should improvise on its implementation mechanisms to prevent illegalities.