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Show how projects will benefit locals first : GBA

HERALD
APRIL 11,2010
Goa Bachao Abhiyaan (GBA) has said that the state government should specify the public use before acquiring any land for projects and also mention to what extent those projects will benefit the local population.

In a brainstorming meeting held today in Panjim, GBA’s top brass along with village level representatives charted out various illegalities in the land use plan and decided to raise them during their meeting with Chief Minister Digamber Kamat on April 15. “It was decided that to ask the chief minister to call for a structured meeting after April 15 within seven days so that all the apprehensions can be raised,’ GBA convenor Sabina Martins told reporters after the meeting.

She said that GBA will resort to further course of action, if the chief minister keeps dilly dallying on the issue.

“The Goa government should define what exactly public purpose is when they acquire the land for projects. Even if it’s for public purpose, the government should specify who and how will the public benefit from it,” she said.

She said that right from cricket stadium at Thivim to the football stadium at Verna or hospital project at Margao, the state government should define the public use.
“As far as compensation is concerned, the land owner should be paid as per market rates,” Martins added. She also said that the GBA will be asking the state government to carry out land acquisitions only at non-eco sensitive zones.

GBA decided to insist with the government that no mega-projects including housing should be allowed unless there is adequate infrastructure in place.

Agricultural policy: The meeting also decided to ask the government to notify National Agricultural Policy 2007, which disallows conversion of any cultivable lands.
“We have received a letter from the prime minister’s office which clearly speaks about the agricultural policy. We met the local bureaucrats asking them to notify this policy but they seem to be not interested,” Siddharth Karapurkar, a local activist, said. The green non-governmental organization which fought a successful year long battle against Regional plan 2010 and got it scrapped has now decided to pull up its sleeves disallowing backdoor violations in the run up for new RP 2021.

GBA’s Dr Oscar Rebello said that the state government should be forced to notify the national agricultural policy, which will bring end to half of the issues of illegal conversion of cultivable land.He said that sustained pressure should be maintained on the state government so that they won’t keep delaying to act against the violations.

The meeting also deliberated on the various circulars that fumbled on the rule for allowing mega projects….

Taleigao in a mess: Taleigao Bachao Abhiyaan’s (TBA) Aanand Madgaonkar said that a lot of eco sensitive zones in Taleigao area are being converted into residential purposes disrespecting the laws.
“There are seven to 10 storey buildings proposed and passed in the eco sensitive zone. In Taleigao, the steep slope is been cut for construction and half of the slopes have already vanished,” he said. Madgaonkar said that TBA in support of the GBA will be pressurizing the government to protect these eco sensitive zones.

Proposed roads: Vincy D’Costa from Assolna said that although there are huge mega projects planned in the village, there is no provision for roads. “The roads cannot be widened and if these developments go on, it will be a mess,” he said.
“First it was said that a road with width of six meters is required to have a mega project in the village and later the circular was withdrawn and now again they have come back to proposed roads,” he added.

The same issue was raised by the village representative from St Cruz and Nagve
Talking on the issue, Martins said that no further permission must be given to the mega projects unless the roads, where projects are passed, are widened.

Paddy field: Zarina Da Cunha from Nuvem said that the football stadium is being planned at Nuvem by filling the paddy field. “Nuvem is a hilly village with agrarian economy. There are instances of purposely putting fire in the forest so that the trees can be cut,” she said.

Scams by trusts: Representatives from Keri, Ponda said that the communidade lands in the village are being transferred to various trusts so that they can be utilized for commercial purposes. The trusts claiming to support education are taking over these lands, which is a scam in itself.

Cavelossim blunder: GBA’s Reboni Saha said that a mega five star housing project at Cavelossim is planned cutting into mangroves. The booking for the project has already started although local panchayat says that they have not permitted the project.

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Show how projects will benefit locals first : GBA

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