Calangute, Candolim locals raise concern over ODP hearing

NT NETWORK

CALANGUTE

Villagers of Calangute and Candolim have expressed concern over the manner in which the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) committee was holding hearings on the objections raised by the people to the outline development plan (ODP) 2025.

They alleged that the NGPDA hearing committee was only clicking photographs of persons, who have raised objections to the ODP and not recording their statements during the hearings.

Irked by it, the villagers of the two villages have submitted a memorandum to the member secretary of NGPDA at his office in the city, objecting to the alleged discrepancies.

In the memorandum submitted to the member secretary Pandita, the locals have questioned the process followed by the hearing committee as regards the ODP 2025.  Over 500 persons have raised objections to the ODP in Calangute
and many more in Candolim.

The NGPDA has started hearing applicants from Calangute and Candolim who have raised objections to the ODP.

One such applicant, Premanand Divkar told this daily that applicants from Calangute and Candolim are saying that they are only being photographed and no statements are recorded.

Clotilda Braganza said that applicants have been asked by the NGPDA office to come to Mala-Panaji with proof and present it before the hearing committee, however, there only signatures are taken on a register.

The villagers also questioned as to how the Calangute comunidade attorney was a part of the hearing committee.