Everything what Fr. Eremita Rebello, said is agreeable totally in the tunes of people of Goa and all its issues mentioned in his Press note are in toto. I would like to request the Convenor of GFDO to mentioned an another issue that we have in Panjim at St Ines Creek where the water bodies have been encroached and many high rise buildings have come up. The creek is going narrow day by day and in certain places the constructions is seen coming up directly on the creek, there are chances parts of Panjim will be inundated or flooded within few years time, during the high tide and sea level rise effect when meeting together especially in the monsoon, which will be detrimental for the residents living nearby especially at Camarabhat area in Taleigao where this area comes under the jurisdiction of Taleigao Panchayat. Government of Goa, and Panjim MLA Sidharth Kuncolienkar is closing their eyes because of vested interest are supporting these constructions. The part of the sewage untreated by PWD Sewage Treatment Plant, needs to be checked and I am afraid that is also been discharging its sewage into the St Ines creek as it is clearly seen the black colour of sea water with lots of pollution and all sort of garbage. I see everyday a number of sewage tankers lining up on the roads nearby, waiting their turn to the plant which are coming all over the Goa, and the PWD treatment plant cannot manage such a load and thus it discharges into the creek. I have a doubt that there exist any accountability of these tankers who are seen off loading sewage into the plant. Moreover all the buildings including huts nearby the creek, are seen mushrooming for Taleigao vote bank, and the sewage is seen discharging directly into the Creek and the health of residents staying nearby are breading this foul smell and their health is deteriorated with malaria and respiratory diseases. I have been told that many approach government land and open spaces has bee converted into the approach road for the builders and the constructions have been coming up, and this is also to be investigated. Government of Goa under the leadership of Laxmikant Parsekar must open their eyes before it is too late and monitoring is required as well as an inquiry must be instituted.
Stephen Dias Senior Citizen and Panjimite Resident of Dona Paula --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On 10 December 2015 at 21:36, b sabha <bcsabha.kal...@gmail.com> wrote: > "Edwin/Diana Pinto" <eddipi...@gmail.com> > > December 7, 2015 > > > > GFDO said that the BJP government seems to have conveniently forgotten > that it was voted into power based on its 2012 election manifesto, which > clearly stated that ?Regional Plan will be scrapped and a new one to be > drawn up with people?s participation in a transparent manner?. This was > later reinforced in the Governor's address to the Assembly. Therefore, it > is unacceptable that the BJP government should propagate and declare > intention to notify the same Regional Plan 2021, which it so vehemently > opposed and attacked during the Digambar Kamat led Congress dispensation. > Since the BJP government has now obviously decided to stage a U turn and go > against the manifesto based upon which it was elected, it is morally > obliged to resign and seek a fresh mandate from the people of Goa based > upon its new found adherence to RP 2021, which it had strongly rejected > along with the people of Goa before the 2012 elections. > > > > In the past three and a half years of its rule in the state of Goa, the > earlier Parrikar and present Parsekar led BJP state governments have > clearly demonstrated a calculated lack of will and intention to establish a > people and environment oriented Regional Plan, even as it freely > facilitated the acquisition by vested interests of large swathes of > precious Goan land and community resources. The government?s lack of > seriousness with respect to the Regional Plan is once again obvious from > its timing in opening up the Regional Plan to the people in December, which > is the peak of Goa?s tourism season and the height of the state?s festive > season. > > > > The importance of putting in place a Regional Plan that does not go > against the laws of nature has been very effectively showcased in the > Chennai disaster, which has been brought about by reckless building and > encroachments upon river canals, lakes, water bodies and natural drainage > paths. GFDO urges the people of Goa to learn from the lessons of Chennai > and closely monitor and question the actions of the BJP state government, > which is brazenly relaxing norms for CRZ and eco-sensitive zones and > granting Environment Clearances for projects like the proposed Mopa Airport > and Tiracol golf course without any justification whatsoever. It appears > that the government is committed to releasing corporate and vested > interests from the healthy restraints imposed by the rule of law. Devising > strangely anarchic laws that subvert the rule of law by empowering the > government to legalise illegal encroachments thus creating strategic vote > banks that will ultimately disempower Goans who are st > akeholders in the land is yet another way this government is moving to > undermine democracy in the state. > > > > Whilst expressing solidarity with Claude Alvares and Goa Foundation, GFDO > said that the Parsekar government needed to explain why the NGO needed to > be investigated. Did it find concrete anomalies in its funding and > functioning that would demand an investigation or is it the unwritten > policy of this BJP government to create an atmosphere of intimidation and > intolerance by harassing and browbeating into submission any NGO or citizen > who ventures to question its actions? The people of Goa have many questions > that need answers. > > > > For GFDO > > Fr. Eremito Rebelo > > Convenor > -- > Please send a blank email with "delete my id" in the subject line if you > do not wish to receive our mails >