> *Goa Bachao Abhiyan* > > 77, Defence Colony, Alto Porvorim-Goa > > goabachaoabhi...@gmail.com www.savegoa.com > > Phone: 8888707083 > > > GBA/2011/62 24 November, > 2011** > > Press Release > > > > > > The GBA has through its meeting with the Chief Minister and the TCP > Department received extension of time till 5th December for Village > Level groups/bodies/ individuals to seek appointment with the TCP and > place all errors on Eco Zones, road widths and suspect insertions of > settlements, etc for correction with supporting arguments. > > However the GBA has noted that the TCP Department has not issued clear > guidelines for how these are to be presented and if they will issue dates > for hearing the aggrieved groups. The GBA demands that the same be made > public immediately to avoid confusion. > > > Politically motivated misinformation > > > > The GBA notes that there is a concerted effort being made to whip up > peoples emotions through misinformation. If the MLA’s are serious in > supporting the wishes of the people they should call for a special assembly > session to Amend the TCP Act for inclusion of peoples participation in > future planning as per the 73rd and 74th Amendment and repeal Amendment > 16/16A of the TCP Act. Amendment 16/16A to the TCP Act which was passed > unopposed in 2008, allows development permissions in the name of PPP to > bypass people without being shown on the Regional Plan. > > As you read this, as many as 17 mega projects are seeking permission > through the Tourism Master Plan as PPP with a view to exploit the loophole > that Amendment 16/16A has provided. The GBA urges people to question their > MLA’s in this regard to come out clearly with a statement on this. > > > Road Width Issues > > > > Public notices have been printed reassuring people that existing houses > will not be demolished, compulsory set backs being valid only for new > constructions. Gazette notification of 4th August 2011 clause 32, states > clearly at the time of approval of the development plan, minimum 6m wide > right of way should be available on the site, in line with the High Court > order. > > > The 25m wide MDR’s ( Main District Roads ) and 15m MPR’s ( Main Panchayat > Roads ) have been part of the RP2001 unopposed, and are not unique to the > RP2021. Details of right-of-way alignment and width including internal > roads, lie with the concerned department, the PWD. In the absence of the > RP2021, the RP2001 will be in force, including the roads, as per PWD record. > > > The people should concur and make informed decisions on internal road > widths based on ground realities and current day requirements at the Gram > Sabhas. While 6m right-of-ways allow for development, newly introduced VP2 > status allows for a lower built up area of 60% instead of blanket 80% as > per RP2001. > > Perspectives not discussed have also emerged regarding roads, such as the > need to allow for access of agricultural machinery such as tractors and > harvesters to the farmers fields. These have in fact not been marked in > some village plans and have been subject matter of discussion at Taluka > level meetings conducted by the Directorate of Agriculture. Paths need to > be minimum 2.5m width as 1.5m access do not permit movement of machinery. > > Yet another perspective is public transport does not reach interior areas > due to narrow roads below 6m ( Carpet width 4m ) and require people to walk > long distances. This has been a complaint for working people who return > from work after dark. > Insertions or Errors > > > > The GBA urges people to bring forward clear errors or insertions that work > against the principle of Eco-Zones as laid out in the policy of the RP2021. > Survey number 78 and 84 in Pilerne/Marra for example, where overlays of > Google maps, ODP’s and the draft RP2021, show large areas converted from > Eco-Zone to Settlement including a 10m proposed road to feed it. Naroa > Panchayat also shows a shipyard on a mangrove zone of Survey no.8, clearly > an insertion where there is nothing on ground to support this. The GBA > demands that the TCP Department corrects such obvious insertions and will > understand it to be fraud if ignored. > > > > The GBA offers assistance on Monday, 28th November, from 10.30am to 4pm, > to any party who wishes for study or clarifications regarding such > issues, as well as for presentation to the TCP office before 5th December. > Those seeking to do this may inform their intention on 8888707083. > > > > > > Reboni Saha > > > > > > Secretary – Goa Bachao Abhiyan > > > > > > >
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