MARGAO: The Concerned Citizens of Goa (CCOG), at its public presentation on the Regional Plan 2021 at Lohia Maidan, Margao, on Monday, renewed its demand that the government scrap the RP21 and form a people-friendly plan.
During the event, Goans for Sustainable Development (GSD), which is an umbrella organisation of active citizen groups, explained all details of the RP21 and answered questions of the people in a two-hour interactive session. The GSD had also used Google Earth to give real-time data and an idea of the anomalies in the plan.
GSD has also asked for the de-notification of the RP21 and that a moratorium be placed on all new constructions, except single family dwellings. It has also demanded the implementation of the 73rd and 74th Amendments in a new act for sustainable planning and development, and that studies be carried out and the results presented to the people to prepare a new Regional Plan.
GSD said that the government’s attitude towards the people with respect to the RP21 and the Regional Plan itself, has conclusively proved that until the 73rd and 74th amendments were incorporated into a new TCP Act, people’s participation in the Regional Plan would never be a reality, but would leave Goa open and extremely vulnerable to the machinations of vested interests. “Hence, any Regional Plan prepared without constitutional validity being given to people’s participation through a new TCP Act could not find acceptance with the people,” said GSD.
GSD has expressed anger at the present government for not making attempts to incorporate the people’s suggestions in the RP21. It stated, “It has it has inexplicably opened the RP for further objections and suggestions by the people. Again, if the government is serious about people’s participation, does it really think that one month in the height of the festive and tourism season is an adequate timeframe for the people?”
