RP first, then housing units: Benaulim meet

HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JULY 25 –
A public meeting held by the anti-mega housing projects in Benaulim on Friday evening demanded a total ban on multi-dwelling housing units pending the finalization of the Regional Plan 2011 and have called for the resignation of village Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes for filing a “false” case against the activists.
The impressive public meeting – convened to condemn the arrests of the two activists – resolved that the Benaulim villagers would hence forth draw-up the village development plan taking into account the local requirements. The meeting also decided in one voice to bring all the agitating people across Goa under one banner to unitedly continue the battle, be it mega housing, mining etc.
In his address, Adv Radharao Gracias stressed on the need to spread the ongoing agitation across Goa, saying the issue is not restricted to just Benaulim or Colva, but across the state. He demanded that villagers should demand with the government to retain the character of the villages by reserving 90 per cent of the land for just ground-plus one structure and remaining 10 per cent for commercial use. There’s a need to build pressure on the government to ban multi-projects before finalization of the RP 2011”, he said. Saying that villagers are suffering as Sarpanchas and Panchas have become brokers and are in league with the builders, he called for a freeze on all construction before setting up of infrastructure such as water, roads, power etc.
Benaulim Villages Action Committee, Geraldine Fernandes said the people of Benaulim have been agitating peacefully against the anti-mega housing projects despite provocations and instigating by the elected representatives. Referring to the arrest of the two youngsters and the presence of riot gear police men at gram sabha and other meetings, Geraldine said “the people of Benaulim will not be cowed down by the intimidatory tactics of the police. We will not give up our demand for a ban on mega projects”.
Social activist, Ramesh Gauns said the ongoing movement is already a big success in Benaulim and expressed confidence that people’s power will finally prevail. He underlined the need to unite all the people fighting against ill-conceived plans and projects of the government by bringing all the people under one banner.
Goa Bachao Abhiyan activist, Praveen Sabnis said the government should first take up the development of Goa and Goans and nothing else. “For the people of Goa, development means education, water, roads, employment”, he said.
Benaulim ZP member Maria Rebello, Benny Fernandes, Terezinha also spoke. People from Colva also attended the meeting.
Both the arrested youth, who were released on bail, were prominently seated in the audience.