HOME
 
  GBA
 
  About Us
  The Regional Plan
  Time Line
  Downloads
  Photo Gallery
  Events
  Press Room
 
  GBA Press Releases
  News Articles
  People Speak
  Support Us
 
  Sign Up
  Report a Violation
  Get Involved
  You Should Know
 
  Environment & Forests
  Heritage
  Mining
  People's Power
  SEZ
  Blog
 
  Accidental Activist
  Good? Bad? Ugly?


GBA Press Releases

GBA Global Press Note

GBA PRESS RELEASE 3rd Jan '07: On the occasion of the 4th Global Goan Convention being held in Goa, the GOA BACHAO ABHIYAN (GBA) “Save Goa Campaign” today launches its Global Campaign for the scrapping of the Goa Regional Plan 2011 in its present form.

Goa has emerged as an International Tourist destination due to its hospitality, culture, history, ecology and its people which have over the years drawn millions of tourists to its shores. In fact, beach tourism and eco-tourism now being promoted has caught the imagination of the tourist purely because of the hills, beaches and traditional occupations like the toddy tappers, fishermen, farmers and the toiling people of Goa that make Goa what it is. The Regional Plan 2011 seeks to destroy the very base of tourism by converting Goa into a destination exclusively for high spending tourists with emphasis to develop exclusive townships consisting of 5 star hotels, luxury condominiums, casinos, golf courses etc. at the cost of the local communities and the ecology of the State
.

These projects seek to draw money from investors and shareholders from overseas who are oblivious of the fact that their money is going to contribute to the devastation of Goa. It is precisely for this reason that the Save Goa campaign through its Global outreach will contact overseas Goans, environmental organizations, ethical investment companies, tour operators, eco tourism companies and citizen groups world wide with an appeal to put pressure on the Government of Goa to scrap the Regional Plan 2011.

The GBA is convinced that the Regional Plan for Goa 2011 in its present form will “kill the goose that lays the golden egg”. The GBA has put up through its website “savegoa.com” blatant violations of the law of the land and ecological devastations of hills, orchards, mangroves, privatization of beaches, fields etc. and sends a strong and clear message to all those who wish to invest in Goa to be very vigilant and check all documents and clearances before investing in the State.

The GBA reiterates its deadline of the 15th January to the Government of Goa to scrap the Regional Plan and will spread this message to the global community to join in the campaign to save Goa and its people from devastation by joining in the chorus to scrap the Regional Plan – 2011.

GOA BACHAO ABHIYAN.
(Dr. Oscar Rebello)
Convenor