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GBA to focus on Gram Sabhas

BY HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JAN 28 — Promising to be ever vigilant, Goa Bachao Abhiyan on Sunday vowed to strengthen village gram sabhas by conducting awareness programmes and workshops to sensitise them about their immense powers to stop land illegalities. Addressing a press conference at GBA Secretary Patricia Pinto’s residence at Campal, here, Convenor Dr Oscar Rebello welcomed the decision of the government to de-notify the Regional Plan 2011 with retrospective effect, i.e. from the day it was notified.

Dr Rebello, however, maintained, “For now, we welcome the decision on the RP but only after going through the de-notification, which is going to be out soon, I will be able to make a comment.”  He emphasized that in the meanwhile the GBA would continue in its efforts to empower the gram sabhas so that village people, who are the decision makers and main stakeholders, are equipped to understand the moves made by the politician-developer nexus to grab their land.

Dr Rebello expressed happiness over the mammoth gatherings at gram sabhas all over the State on January 26 unanimously passing resolutions to scrap the RP with retrospective effect. This is not the achievement of only the GBA, but whole of Goa, the gram sabhas are alive and kicking, he stated. The GBA now sends a warning to the Government over the Outline Development Plan, Dr Rebello asserted and added, “Reliable sources have revealed to us massive changes in land use and increase in FAR (floor area ratio) made in the ODPs of five cities and Durgawadi in Taleigao”.

He informed that the sources told them these have been made without consulting the local bodies as required under Section 29 of the Town and Country Planning Act. “If the ODPs are approved, the GBA will start another agitation,” he warned. Dr Rebello has urged the people to henceforth direct all complaints of violations with respect to the changes in the RP, hill cutting, filling-up of low-lying lands and mangroves, CRZ violations and burning of forests at help@savegoa.com or call on 9822802629/2228538 (Fax No).

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