ALLEGATIONS
OF BIG SCAM
>> Former Calangute MLA and Congress spokesman, Agnelo Fernandes reiterated that the ODP was a big scam
>> He said TCP nod to ODP would pave way for destruction of hills, fields and Khazan lands in Calangute & Candolim
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MAPUSA: After the Town and Country Planning Board recently cleared the outline development plan (ODP) for Calangute-Candolim, the opposition and activists are gearing up to legally challenge the decision of the board.
People from Calangute and Candolim had raised several objections over the ODP and even questioned the procedure used to prepare the plans.
In fact, locals along the coastal belt had high hopes after TCP Minister, Vijai Sardessai held a meeting with members of the Candolim Residents and Consumer Forum on the day of the TCP board meeting last month, and later even postponed the board meeting.
“Our petition against the Calangute-Candolim ODP is already in the High Court. In fact we managed to get a stay on issuing of construction licences based on the draft ODP which is still in force,” said Roshan Mathias, one of the seven other petitioners who had moved a PIL in HC.
“Nevertheless, after the recent TCP order approving the ODP, we are looking at all other options to strengthen the case further,” Mathias added.
Former Calangute MLA and Congress spokesman, Agnelo Fernandes reiterated that the ODP was a big scam which would destroy the hills, fields and Khazan lands in Calangute and Candolim and vowed to legally challenge it.
“Non-existing structures have been shown in No Development Zones and fields to favour non-Goans. Some blatantly illegal structures of non-Goans are sought to be regularized whereas Goans staying in CRZ areas have been neglected after promising to regularise their structures. This illegal ODP will be challenged in the court,” Fernandes said.
“Till then I would advise all non Goan builders not to pay the other half of the bribe that was paid to carry out illegal change of zones,” Fernandes alleged.
The earlier Calangute panchayat under the tutelage of then sarpanch, Joseph Sequeira had also filed a writ petition in the High Court against the ODP.
However, the new panachayat owing allegiance to local MLA, Michael Lobo withdrew the petition.
“We had asked the Calangute panchayat to hold a gram sabha to discuss the ODP issue but this panchayat did not adhere to our request,” said Joseph Sequeira, former sarpanch.
Sequeira said since the TCP board has approved the ODP for Calangute-Candolim, some concerned citizens were debating on various options.
“Filing a PIL is an option,” he said.
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