The Goa Su-Raj Party nor the Goa Environmental Action Group lead by their
respective General Secretary Shri. Floriano Lobo has never been a part of
GBA even from the very beginning, though these two organizations did hugely
support its initiative from the background.
These two organizations have been silent observers of what was happening vis
a vis GBA brass and the Government of Digamber Kamat. The indication of
what was to come was given in the 'Draft Regional Plan' when Dr. Oscar
Rebello, GBA's original convenor, had endorsed it with the Margao based
builder's suggestion that "accommodation for the migrant workers in Goa
should be built to house them" This clearly showed the builder/GBA nexus.
Therefore, that GBA's mandate had to fail and the people of Goa be taken for
a jolly good ride was evident.
We believe that Soter is making a lot of sense when he says what he says,
especially that GBA couldn't use its clout to negate and remove the
controversial amendments to section 16 & 16A of the TCP Act which is a
arrogant move by the powers that be to tell the people 'you do want you
want - but we shall do what we want'. Therein lies the total and absolute
failure of the GBA.
What is happening now within the precincts of the GBA is a face saving
activity, nothing less, nothing more.
The GBA, specifically Sabina Martins who is leading it, is required to
scrutinize each and every 'who is who' in the GBA, check their antecedents,
and the rotten apples (which are aplenty ) be shown the door OR say RIP
once and for all and be done with it, sooner the better, so that the
'PPS' movement which is waiting on the sideline be recognized for what it is
and be given an even bigger boost that will overshadow the Azad Maidan's
gathering of 18 December 2006.
Cheers
floriano
goasuraj
9890470896
www.goasu-raj.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "soter" <so...@bsnl.in>
To: <goa...@goanet.org>
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2010 10:21 PM
Subject: [Goanet] GBA's 4th Anniversary of Miners and builders Interests
Well, it is the 4th Anniversary of Goa Bachao Abhiyan.
"Time to take stock of how much we have achieved and what needs to be done."
states an e-mail.
It further goes to state the objectives for which it was formed.
"The main cause that led to the formation of GBA was the objection to the
mass conversion of land for construction in the Regional Plan 2011 which
was a threat to the identity and sustainability of Goa. .
The main demands raised were 1) revocation of the Regional Plan 2011 2)
Formulation of a new Plan by a participatory process as per the 73rd and
74th amendment of the Constitution."
It goes on to claim that, "The first objective was achieved in 2007. All of
us who were part of this movement take great pride in recounting this
success story." No one will deny this achievement of objective No. 1.
GBA admits that it is still struggling with its objective No. 2. However, it
conveniently seems to be pushing the blame on the government. If at all the
government has suceeded in bull dozing its own understanding about
particiapatory planning, it is definitely GBA that must carry the blame for
the betrayal of the people for the following reasons;
GBA is the biggest fraud on the people which has been kept alive by builder
and mining interests after the scrapping of RP 2011. Goans should not
complain now. They have indirectly endorsed the present RP 2021 and are not
entitled to any scope for further suggestions as per the TCP Act which GBA
has preserved. All this was done inspite of cautioning from time to time.
-Soter
