PANJIM: People from all over the State gathered at the Town and Country Planning department on Tuesday, ahead of Gandhi Jayanti demanding cleansing of the corrupt system. The massive protest was reminiscent of the Goa Bachao Abhiyan against the 2011 Regional Plan. People demanded the resignation of Chief Town Planner Rajesh Naik who had signed on files for massive land conversions in forests, fields and NDZ. Two more protests, one at Azad Maidan and Lohia Maidan have been planned. Protestors say that they won't relent until the demands are met.
About 1000 people who protested at the TCP office, at Patto Panjim, which began at 3 pm, condemned the corruption in the TCP and the sale of Goa. They said all Mega projects have to be discussed at the Gram Sabhas.
, “We have only one point agenda –for Rajesh Naik to resign, because you have not brought shame to yourself but to the institution of Chief Town Planner. You have done more damage than any town planner of the state.”Claude Alvares, Director of Goa Foundation
“ There is a urgent need in Goa to clean the system. Tomorrow is Gandhi Jayanti so we have started cleaning the system from today. Goa has been put on sale by the ministers and specifically the Chief Town Planner Rajesh Naik. From 2017 to 2024 by sitting in that position he has made a business out of Goa.”Swapnesh Sherlekar, Protest Ideator
Chief Minister and TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane are the most corrupt and I will raise these issues in Parliament. Along with Ministers, officers are fully responsible for the sale of Goa. We need to tell the children of those who are selling Goa.”Capt Viriato Fernandes, MP South Goa
“Amendments are being brought to the Town and Country Planning Act to convert lands of Goa; all the mega projects land conversions have to be discussed at the Gram sabhas,”Amit Patkar , GPCC President
“Sale of Goa is complete, how can Bhutanis, Lodhas, DLF enter Goa? We dare you to stop this. Whatever remains of Goa that too will be sold. Total destruction of our natural heritage is going on. Stop the Delhi builders from coming to Goa. We don’t want them, our mother Goa is not for sale,” he said.Prajal Sakhardande Historian
, “Rajesh Naik, I challenge you, where is your soul and conscience. Have you sold you self to outsiders? You have brought disgrace to the Goan community. You are first is Goan citizen and then a chief town planner. You have no business to follow what your bosses tell you.”Judith Almeida, Environmentalist