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Obviously the demands, wishes and aspirations of the Goan people are falling on deaf years with the Goa Government and the Town and Country Planning, Village Panchayats and Builders delaying the implementation of RP2021 while the builders are using their clout, money-power and close nexus with our Goan politicians to push through various building projects in Goa by breaking all the rules. Of course the Village Panchayats point their fingers to the TCP who in turn point their fingers at the Goa Goverenment and in the meantime irreversible damage is being done to the our Goan villages and environment. We know why the delay tactics are being adopted by these various parties, as they want to cater to their insatiable greed and fill up their coffers! In the meantime the Goan people are being given the run around and made to dance from pillar to post while seeing Goa being destroyed in front of their very eyes! Interestingly while the TCP has time and personnel to grant innumerable NOCs and permissions to construct on hillslopes, fields and other =91no development zones' [NDZ] and within 15 days finalise the consultation for the grandiose Sea Link project across the mouth of River Zuari, it claims it has less personnel when it comes to finalising the regional plan or even providing information under RTI Action NOCs issued during the last 16 months after the draft RP 2021 was notified. There is an urgent and immediate need for: 1. Finalisation and publication of RP 2021. 2. Freezing of all permissions and NOCs for development in ecosensitive zon= es. 3. Stopping filling of fields/water bodies, cutting of hills, destruction of mangroves, etc till the RP 2021 is notified. 4. Having a "One Goa, One Plan". No Outline Development Plans [ODPs] outside the Regional Plan. 5. Revoking of amendments to Section 16/16A of Goa TCP Act which allow projects outside the Regional Plan What will it take for the Goa Government to listen to the wishes and the aspirations of the Goan people? Or are they just blinded by their single minded greed even if it means the destruction of Goa? The people of Goa need to be made inclusive in the democratic and participatory planning for sustainable, equitable, economically and ecologically sound development that retains the basic physical [hydro-geological], environmental, social, ethical, political and cultural characteristics of Goa that has drawn humanity to it across the generations for its greenery, tranquillity and way of life beyond mere existence and monetary net worth. The above comments are in response to the article below from the Navhind Ti= mes. ************************************************************************** I can't implement provisions of draft Regional Plan 2021, says chief town planner Published on: March 18, 2010 - Navhind Times Reiterating the government decision to finalise the Regional Plan 2021 within next six months, the chief town planner, Mr Morad Ahmed on Wednesday said. PANAJI: Reiterating the government decision to finalise the Regional Plan 2021 within next six months, the chief town planner, Mr Morad Ahmed on Wednesday said, "However, implementing the provisions of the draft RP 2021 in piecemeal fashion, before issuance of related final notification is beyond my jurisdiction, and is a policy decision, which can only be taken by the government." The Goa Bachao Abhiyan and various village groups on Tuesday had resolved to intensify their action for 'One Goa, One Plan', demanding that till the finalisation of the RP 2021, VP3 Rules should apply in all villages, which have clearly asked for it, and in case of a disputed status, the village panchayat status representing lower built-up area should apply until the matter is resolved. Mr Ahmed told The Navhind Times pointed out that VP3 is basically related to the FAR (floor area ratio) and applies to the villages as per their population; the village with higher population having higher FAR and vice versa. However, implementing the provisions of the draft RP 2021 is a decision to be taken by the gove ---------------------------------------------------- Rights group questions Goa housing project - This news items questions the collusion between our Goa Chief Minister and the DLF project in Alto-Dabolim. Alll our Goan Ministers and politicians are hand in glove with the builders, TCP, Village Panchayats to push through these mega-projects in Goa. ************************************************************************************ Rights group questions Goa housing project 2010-03-16 19:50:00 A leading civic rights group Tuesday alleged irregularities in granting permissions to a mega housing project promoted by Delhi-based infrastructure firm DLF and has called the role of Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in the deal as 'extremely suspicious'. 'As head of the town and country planning (TCP) department, his (Kamat) role is full of suspicion, especially the manner in which permissions were given for the DLF's mega housing project in Dabolim,' Sabina Martins said during a press conference. Sabina is convenor of the Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA), a leading rights organisation which serves as an umbrella for several NGOs promoting planned development, The DLF mega residential project which envisages the construction of 600 top-of-the-range houses along the hill slopes of the picturesque village of Dabolim, 30 km from here, has triggered a huge controversy with several politicians and bureaucrats being accused of turning a blind eye to numerous illegalities allegedly committed by the promoters in executing the project. 'The entire project is being constructed on a slope which is a 'no development zone'. Large scale tree felling was carried out without permissions from the forest department. And the TCP itself gave the project permissions using the 'deemed' provisions,' Rebonie Saha, secretary of the GBA, said. The TCP, which authorizes and finalizes plans for development projects, is presently headed by Kamat, who is also the chairman of the TCP Board, which is the authority for clearances. Targeting Kamat for the slew of illegal construction projects in Goa, Martins said that not one of the assurances given by the chief minister over checking illegal constructions in the state had been delivered by him. Kamat, who was elected to power in 2007, had been forced to scrap the controversial 'Regional Plan 2011', which envisaged conversion of large tracts of land from orchard or green categories to settlement zones. However, the inordinate delay by Kamat in putting into place an alternative regional plan 'Regional Plan 2021' for Goa had only worked in favour of the real estate lobby, who were making merry thanks to the delay, the GBA said.