Goan students to flood PM, Sonia with postcards

PANJIM, NOV 5
Soon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and All India Congress Committee President Sonia Gandhi will be flooded with postcards from Goan school and college students urging these leaders to save the State’s eco-sensitive zones from any kind of development. 
Sending these posts cards was a suggestion that was put forward by Dr Francisco Menezes at a meeting in Chicalim under the aegis of Goa Bachao Abhiyan to call upon people to press for notifying eco-sensitive zones.
GBA Convenor Sabina Martins said they were doing all they could to see how eco-sensitive zones could be saved and this suggestion at the meeting was well-received. The schools are holidaying for Diwali and once the vacation is over we will impress upon them to send these postcards on the day they celebrate Children’s Day, she stated.
Martins said since the schools and colleges are on vacation they will celebrate Children’s Day (celebrated on Nov 14) when these reopen. Post cards will also be sent to the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat who has given the people only assurances on the finalisation of the Regional Plan 2021, she added.
She said besides the PM, Sonia and CM post cards will be sent to other top elected representatives in Delhi dealing with environmental and geographical matters. 
At the Chicalim meeting yesterday, the Chicalim Villagers’ Action Committee decided to call upon their MLA Mauvin Godinho to press for notification of eco-sensitive zones. The meeting was also attended by representatives of Save Our Slopes, Goa Heritage Action Group, Vasco Watch and concerned citizens from Chicalim and Vasco.
Leaders like Rui Araujo (CVAC), Prajal Sakhardande (GHAG), Aravind Bhatikar (former MPT Chairman), Edwin Mascarenhas (SOS), Commander Narayan (Vasco Watch) and Caitan Fernandes (CVAC) placed at the meeting issues raised by them that were directly and indirectly related to the RP.