savegoa

Interim Report & TCP Act amendment

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:49:36 +0530

GBA Press Release: 3 June, 2008: The GBA reiterated its objections to the Interim Report in its meeting held on 2nd June. The GBA has consistently expressed its stand on the 73rd and 74th Amendment of Constitution which calls for people’s participation in the planning process. The GBA stands by the demand that the Amendment to section 16 and 16A of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1974 be repealed because it undermines the very spirit of planning which is unacceptable. The GBA states that the timeline is totally unrealistic as the processes like collection of baseline data, pilot studies, inputs from socio economic experts have not yet come on board. The approach of Task force to the above mentioned points expressed in the Interim Report are viewed by GBA as serious reservations and hopes that suitable remedial measures will be taken. This has been conveyed in the letter sent to the Task Force by the Co Convenor and taken up by the Convenor with the Task Force. It has also decided to meet the Chief Minister on the issue of repealing the Amendment to the TCP Act. The GBA views with considerable consternation media reports that there is a rift in the organization.The GBA is solidly united and will continue to do so. GBA members come in all shades of the rainbow that comprises Goa. It follows a democratic process where all issues are debated and consensus arrived at. Like all red blooded goenkars, we have our vitriolic and even heated arguments but nothing can take away the fact that every single GBA member loves Goa as passionately, as commitedly and as undyingly as ever. Much to the chagrin of our detractors, the GBA marches ahead emboldened, focused and ready for battle TOGETHER. Dr Oscar Rebello Convenor

RP-2021 UPDATE

Sat, 24 May 2008 08:27:57 +0530

Click on MAP ABOVE to DOWNLOAD REPORT (PDF 3.8MB)

A school in the middle of a mine?

Sat, 17 May 2008 15:13:46 +0530

November 2007 NDTV report

High steel prices make Goa a mining hub

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:56:24 +0530

30 Apr 2008, 0301 hrs IST,Nitin Sethi,TNN NEW DELHI: Here is a consequence of rising global steel prices that has made even the bad quality of iron ore in India as precious as gold: tourism hotspot Goa, more known for its clean sand beaches on the edge and the verdant greens on the inside, is turning into a red-iron ore mining zone. More than 70 mining leases have been given environmental clearances in less than 2 years to mines covering 66.9 sq km of the state's forested areas in the hills have been leading to a crisis in the state. Though Goa has been well known since the time of the Portuguese for its iron ore deposits and some of the well known Goa-based football clubs are run by mining giants of the state but the spurt in global demand, especially fed by the Chinese consumption levels, has begun to turn the state red with iron ore mines.

Goa's mining problems

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:53:21 +0530

— Sunita Narain We were standing between a massive mine and a stunning water reservoir. Local activists were explaining to me that this iron ore mine was located in the catchment of the Salaulim water reservoir, the only water source for south Goa. Suddenly, as I started clicking with my camera, we were surrounded by a jeepload of men. They said they were from the mine management and wanted us off the property. We explained that we had come on a public path and that there were no signs to indicate that we were trespassing. But they were not in a mood to listen. They snatched the keys of our jeep, picked up stones to hit us and got abusive. Before things got totally out of hand, we decided to leave. They followed us till they saw that we left the area and most importantly, could not stop and take more photographs.

Mine in Goa forest defies law; SC orders probe

Sat, 17 May 2008 09:40:21 +0530

Bahar Dutt / CNN-IBN Collem Mines (South Goa): A multicrore mining industry is operating out of Goa's forest land, inspite of several notices from the Government to stop all operations. A showcause notice (in CNN-IBN's possession) from the Forest Department Goa to the Prafulla Hede Mines in South Goa dated March 2008 reads: "You are informed to showcause as to why action should not be taken to close all mining activities for violating the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act". Three months later, on May 8, 2008 CNN-IBN's Special Investigation Team (SIT) found that rows and rows of trees, 1000 square meters of prime forest has been burnt to ashes and that trucks are operating inside the Hede Mines despite the showcause notice.

GBA campaigns for a revival of agriculture

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:54:54 +0530

photocredit: Reboni Click on photo to enlarge

The Migrant Danger to Goa

Tue, 13 May 2008 08:36:18 +0530

by Rajan P. Parrikar Inspired by the Socratic Method, I present my case below. Q: Why are you against the migrant influx? A: Goa is tiny, with a finite carrying capacity and we are already saturated. The Goan population is extremely small compared to other communities in India. We cannot withstand the current high inflow of migrants. It will lead to severe civic, social and economic disturbance, will obliterate our Goan Identity, will turn Goa into an unpleasant hovel like other urban Indian areas.

Citizens garner support to save villages

Fri, 09 May 2008 09:14:57 +0530

Herald 8th May 2008: These certainly are not political meetings as one would assume to be repeatedly taking place in Salcete's coastal belt. But, meetings of small groups of anxious and worried citizens garnering support to launch a sustained movement to preserve and protect their villages from being destroyed and degraded by builders with mega housing projects. In a way, Salcete's coastline – from Carmona to Varca, Benaulim and Colva – is playing host to meetings of local residents to take the ongoing disorganised battle against mega housing projects to its logical conclusion. Herald understands that residents are being mobilised from village to village to bring them under one banner to save the villages from destruction.

Carmona Panchayat to send file back

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:18:11 +0530

BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 22 — Mumbai-based builder, Rahejas may soon find their mega-housing construction file back with them. With the Carmona Panchayat recalling the file from the Town and Country Planning Department as per the resolution adopted by the gram sabha members, the Panchayat is now bracing to write a letter to the Rajehas to take back their file. Sarpanch Estaquio D’Costa told Herald that the panchayat has decided to return the file to Rahejas. “As per our request, the Town and Country Planning Department has returned the file. We have now resolved to write to Rajehas to take the construction file”, D’Costa said. The panchayat, which had earlier forwarded Rahejas file to the TCP Department for approval, was forced to ask for a recall following an unanimous resolution adopted by the gram sabha on March 30 which was marred by violent incidents.

Proposed township in Carmona, Salcete

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:31:25 +0530

Location and Heritage The village of Carmona is located on the southern coast of Goa that stretches from Colva to Mobor, and is hemmed in by the villages of Varca and Orlim on one side and Cavelossim on the other. Carmona has about 1,200 homes spread over its settlement zone. AS much as 55 per cent of the land in Carmona is agricultural and the rest is horticultural/orchard/residential land. Its settled population is 5,000. Carmona has its own church, which celebrated its 400th year in 2007, a temple for Hindus and few chapels. Carmona, reckoned to be a 700-year-old settlement, is ranked among the 20-odd Heritage Villages by the Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG). Unlike some others in this 'privileged club', Carmona does not boast of numerous unique, elite houses. It has a few old homes of the zonnkars which complement its old agricultural traditions, and have acquired the heritage status. But Carmona's strength is its neat landscaping, bunding, old water channels, thickly-wooded tracts ¬all manifestations of the heritage if one applies the term in its entirety. A large number of families have been living for generations in Carmona, sustaining themselves on agricultural and allied activities. In the last decade or so, an appreciable number of youngsters have found employment in West Asia or well-paying placements with the international shipping companies. Carmona has remained relatively untouched by the tourism, even as it is located on the South Goan tourist belt, comprising Betalbatim-Colva-Benaulim-Cavelossim.

Gating communities

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:02:16 +0530

If the spectre of communism haunted Europe during the period of Karl Marx, a different kind of spectre,people’s activism at the village level, is tormenting real estate developers in the state. Four villages – Carmona, Benaulim, Siridao and Aldona – have independently arisen in recent weeks to question proposed mega-housing projects in their areas. Residents have formed action groups to voice their concern at unusually well-attended Gram Sabhas and other meetings, and compelling their village panchayats to take note of their apprehensions. This kind of activism in these four villages has led a few conspiracy theorists to accuse some residents of ‘manipulating’ Gram Sabhas to oppose mega housing projects, even though the projects were ‘cleared’ with all the different statutory authorities. These critics conclude that the proponents of this kind of activism seek to use the Gram Sabha – which they say is a consultative body – to usurp the powers of the duly elected and therefore representative panchayat.

Kudos to Carmona

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:04:56 +0530

Jose Cabral, Cortalim The people of Carmona have to be congratulated for the stand they have taken against the housing project proposed by the Rahejas. One has seen on numerous occasions how the peoples’ will has been subdued and their wishes bulldozed over by people with vested interests. Let the action of the Carmona villagers be an eye-opener for the rest of the villages in Goa. The need of the hour is to be vigilant, proactive and do what is best for your village and the state of Goa as a whole.

GBA pressurising Task Force to censure amendment to T&C Act

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:34:08 +0530

NT Staff Reporter Panaji, April 4 The confusion and anger over the amendment to the Town and Country Act seems to be escalating with highly placed Goa Bachao Abhiyan sources saying that the front is applying pressure on the Task Force to condemn the same publicly. Sources say that internally the dissent has already been put on record. Also the fact that the minutes of the meetings of the Task Force which began its work at the end of October and has had 12 meetings since, has not been circulated has been creating disquiet in the minds of the GBA constituents, say sources.

Beauty & The Beast?

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:19:24 +0530

photocredit: Rajan Parrikar A sign of the times. The crude 21st century!