the goan I network
MARGAO
Speaking his mind for the first time on the demand by Sarzora villagers to scrap conversion granted for land admeasuring 28,000 square metres, Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vijai Sardesai on Thursday said the TCP Board will be willing to reconsider the decision since inquiries have revealed that the sanad issued to the party was revoked just like the revocation of the RP 11.
He further said that Velim MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues, who is a member of the TCP Board, will soon inspect the land in question along
with senior TCP officials and submit a report to the Board for action.
“The Board had discussed the issue raised by the villagers of Sarzora against the conversion granted for a party to take up development of a land admeasuring 28,000 square metres. The party had furnished a sanad based on a plan which was scrapped. Our inquiries have further revealed that the sanad was also revoked just like the RP 2011, which was also revoked,” he told the media.
Given the situation, the TCP Board will reconsider the decision, adding that the Board will revert its decision. “There’s a 60-day period for the process to end. The people have the right to object. The panchayat has the right to object,” Sardesai said, adding that the Board is ready to concede the demand of the villagers to scrap the change in zone of the land in question.
Saying that the government will adopt such a stand in all controversial situations, the TCP Minister said that the Board will review the conversions if people raise valid issues that the conversions will affect the eco sensitive zones. “There may be perpetual antagonists who may be critical of the government actions. But, we are committed to review decisions which will affect the eco sensitive zones,” he added.
The Sarzora gram sabha had unanimously resolved to strongly oppose the 16-B Amendment, reminding the authorities that the land in question is low-lying
paddy field, which acts as a water retention body for the benefit of the village and its environment.
The villagers has feared that if the land is converted to non-agriculture use or if any land filling is permitted in the area, it will be catastrophic for the village as the natural flow of water will be blocked, resulting in flooding of houses, fields and properties, pointing out that in the year 2000, wards including Olliazote, CBandh, Vagagoll, Doncon, Firgulem were all inundated with the rain water.
The Sarzora gram sabha had not only resolved to approach the concerned authorities to stop the conversion, but to take all necessary measures, including approaching the courts to ensure that unplanned and disastrous change in zones proposed by the TCP department and the TCP Board are stopped and the village is protected for the future generation.
