Mega meet to oppose RP, PDA in Margao on April 27

MARGAO: A new wave of opposition to the Regional Plan 2021 has been building in the state, and a mega meet to oppose the current government’s stand will be held on April 27.

A group of Goans in the state have begun conducting awareness drives across the state and one such group was in Margao on Saturday.

The activists briefed the audience on the history of the Regional Plan and how people’s opposition had led to the scrapping of RP 2011.

Activist Abhijit Prabhudesai said that coastal villages in the state are the most likely to be affected owing to vast agricultural lands that are at the risk of being made into settlement zones.

He also highlighted the risk of salt water from the ocean entering water bodies including wells.

“Our ancestors had made a special system to prevent the sea water from entering the village wells and water bodies. Fields close to the beach shore have a characteristic manmade water body called ‘ghyre’. This ensured that rainwater would get stored in these ponds and keep the salt water out,” he said.

“But many of these fields, which had these ponds, are at the risk of being turned into settlement areas and thus allowing salt water to enter into wells. The effect would reach not only the nearby coastal villages but would also reach areas of Margao in South Goa,” he added.

Emphasis was also laid on coal handling and nationalisation of rivers and the threat that Goa was faced with if permissions to increase coal handling were given.

The joint meeting to oppose these issues will be held on April 27 at Lohia Maidan, Margao where people from all over the state are expected to raise their voice in opposition.