PANJIM: Assuring villagers that he will raise the matter of illegal inclusion of areas from St Cruz constituency in the planning and development area (PDA) before the Legislative Assembly, local Congress MLA Tony Fernandes on Friday said he will resign as member of Greater Panjim PDA, if the areas are not de-notified.
St Cruz villagers and members of the Village Development Committee (VDC) called on Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar on Friday afternoon with a demand to discuss the matter on the Floor of the House during the budget session so as to obtain an assurance from TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai to de-notify areas of Calapur and Cujira from inclusion in the PDA.
“St Cruz village has been included in parts in the Bambolim PDA selectively. Only the rich bio-diversity land and natural resources like fields, Bondvoll Lake and hills have been included within the PDA jurisdiction,” the villagers alleged in their representation to Congress Legislative party (CLP).
“This clearly indicates the intention of the government to convert these green areas into high-rise construction activities at a fast pace by creating politician-builder nexus and not consulting the villagers in the planning of their own village,” they said.
Speaking to media, the MLA said he is with the people of St Cruz and demanded that the villages be de-notified as part of PDA. “Villagers were not taken into confidence. I have already written to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on the same. Now I will raise the issue on the Floor of the House,” he said. “If our demand is not met, I will resign as member of Greater Panjim PDA,” he stated.
Villagers, alleging that they were not taken into confidence, said the move is unconstitutional and insensitive to the wishes of the villagers.
