MARGAO: Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai made a slew of announcements while addressing the Republic Day parade at Margao, including an Integrated Khazan Management Programme in response to the open editorial in Herald on that topic. He also assured that the age old issues facing Margao about the KTC bus stand and Kabrastan will be resolved shortly.
While praising Herald for raising the issue of khazan lands which have been neglected since Goa’s liberation by the tenant associations, he said ‘khazan lands is a Goan identity and an ecological marvel that is found only in Goa and nowhere else.’
“This ecological marvel has to be preserved and probably we shall have to revive the old gaunkari system in this century,” he said while announcing that the government will give a grant of Rs. 60 per sq mts to any registered farmers’ society that wishes to revive and strengthen the khazan lands over a period of three years.
He said in the first phase 2000 hectares of the total 18,000 hectares of khazan land will be taken up for revival and added that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has promised to make the necessary provision in the budget.
Later speaking to media persons he disclosed that there were proposals to convert salt pans in Calangute and Candolim into settlement zones and said the inner bandhs that are destroyed need to be strengthened.
While asserting that Section 16B of the Town and Country Planning Act was introduced only to provide justice to people who were wronged and said land converted under this Section will necessarily have to have Goa reflected in any development carried out there.
“We are proposing to have Goan streetscape and will be engaging experts to even constitute the Urban Arts Commission so that heritage and architecture of urban areas can be preserved,” he said and added that another amendment was brought about to stop illegal conversion of orchard land and developing plots which are then sold to unknowing people.
While pointing out that brand Goa is selling, he said it was now time to have organic farming and announced plans to cultivate around 25,000 hectares of barren land through co-operative farming and said the government plans to have 500 such clusters in all the constituencies.
He said the government is in the process of setting up a state of art laboratory at the SGPDA market whose foundation stone will be laid on Sunday. “This laboratory will not only test fish for formalin but even fruits and vegetables for preservatives to ensure that people get food and not poison to consume,” he said.
He said the co-operative federalism practised in India has resulted in the Centre financing Rs 20 crore infrastructure projects in the State including the Mandovi and Zuari bridges. “While practising co-operative federalism the regional aspirations cannot be forgotten,” he said adding that is why coconut tree was named a State tree.
“The Archives Department has taken up rehabilitation of the century old Saptakoteshwar temple,” he said adding that the Chief Minister has promised to make budget provision for construction of the new KTC bus stand at Margao.
“Before the next Republic Day the new District Hospital at Margao will be commissioned,” he said while adding that Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation has been given the task of constructing the first phase estimated at Rs 24 crore green building to house the ITI, school and college of Multipurpose Institute.
Of the six schools that participated in the march past, Mahila and Nutan High School won the second prize while Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Canacona won the first prize and of the three colleges that participated, Rosary College Navelim won the first prize while Carmel College Nuvem won the second prize.
Three schools presented cultural programmes and the Goan Folk Dance by King’s School Sao Jose de Areal was adjudged the best while Goenche Vavraddi by Perpetual Succour Convent High School, Navelim won the second place.
The prizes were offered by Samrat Club that is observing its silver jubilee.
