Adv Carlos hits out at piecemeal changes to Regional Plan, calls for new plan
PANAJI: Aldona Congress MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira on Thursday questioned Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane over the “piecemeal” changes being made to the Regional Plan via change of zone, which he said were causing “heartburn” in villages across Goa. He instead called on the Government to begin the process of drafting a new Regional Plan.
“Villages across Goa are erupting over large-scale developments being permitted. It allows a change in demography, landscape, and character. Our villages have remained unique, and houses have blended with the environment. Mega projects and commercial projects are destroying the nature and character of villages. The piecemeal change of zone is creating heartburn. Mostly the rich and famous are applying for these zone changes, which are being made with high speed, while our people who are applying for zone changes — 100 sq m to 1,000 sq m — are still waiting for their changes to be approved,” Adv Ferreira said.
“I would request the minister: Our RP 2021 horizon is over and therefore it is exhausted. A new Regional Plan should be started by taking everybody into confidence,” Ferreira said.
He also questioned the minister over an assurance he had given concerning the declaration of the slopes of Salvador do Mundo that fall in the Pomburpa-Ecoxim village panchayat as eco-sensitive.
“These are all no-development slopes, hills, natural cover, and orchards. The minister gave me an assurance on the floor of the House that it would be done, and I have not seen that as yet,” Ferreira said. He noted how private individuals were applying for change of zone and development permissions for these eco-sensitive lands.
Adv Carlos also raised the issue of roads marked in the Regional Plan, which were a cause of worry for residents whose houses were along these roads, especially given the recent High Court order for the demolition of illegal structures along roadsides.
“People are getting notices. An administrative order can be issued to allay the fears of these people,” Adv Carlos said.
He also questioned how the TCP Department was issuing development permissions for constructions when the necessary access roads were not present on site.
“Despite this, TCP is giving development permissions, and after that, the HC is granting stays. Why is the TCP giving permissions? Even if it is shown, they have to go and physically verify, which means they are not conducting a site inspection,” he said, referring to a circular issued by the TCP Department which stated that no permissions could be given unless the access road of the necessary width was physically present at the site.
Speaking on the issue of the Goa Medical College, Adv Ferreira raised the issue of overcrowding at the casualty ward of the Goa Medical College and Hospital and the consequent suffering faced by patients.
“There is overcrowding in the casualty department. It is designed for 30-40 people — every day there are about 90-100 people. Some arrangements can be made so that they can be accommodated,” he said.
Regarding services at the super-speciality block, Adv Carlos lamented that since there is a high demand, appointments are being given after six months. “Sometimes, when the date arrives, the surgery cannot be done and is postponed for another three months. Increase surgeons and specialists to cater to these patients,” he said.
He also called on the government to regularise the services of biomedical engineers who were taken on board during Covid. “The RRs have been framed in 2024, and these people have not yet been regularised,” he said, while also calling on the government to ensure reservation of seats for OBCs at the post-graduate level. “You are giving them at the MBBS level for 27%, so why not at the PG level?” he said.
Raising concern regarding the shortage of medical staff and vacant posts at the Asilo Hospital, Adv Carlos pointed out that there is a shortage of 79 staff members, including a matron, 15 staff nurses, a physiotherapist, an assistant biochemist, and others. Similarly, there was a shortage of four staff members at the Aldona PHC, which he demanded be upgraded to a Community Health Centre.
“I had made a demand for our Aldona PHC to be upgraded to a CHC because of the number of patients and the types of patients who are coming. Otherwise, they are just referred from there to the District Hospital and from there to GMC. It is becoming like a referral point. We don’t have a dialysis unit at Aldona PHC, though when Dr Nazareth made a proposal, it has not seen the light of day,” he said.
“PHC quarters at Aldona are in shambles. They are virtually crumbling. At the PHC, it has become like a garbage dump yard. Not only is grass growing, we even have snakes in the compound. It’s becoming dangerous,” he said.
Finally, speaking about the issue of the Urban Development Department, he questioned the poor state of Mapusa city, which he said was a Class A Municipality yet was suffering from improper waste collections, especially from the market and wards of the city that fell in his constituency.
“The Chief for Mapusa Municipality needs to be full-time. He is spending three days here and three days somewhere else. Roads, garbage issues, Wards 7 & 8 are just being neglected, and there is no proper waste collection. I don’t know if it is politics. There is no system for disposal of chicken and mutton waste,” he said, adding that people were just dumping it on the roads.
He also alleged that traditional vendors are being harassed by market inspectors. “Other people who are not even from Goa are being allowed to sit, and our locals are being neglected,” he said.
He also highlighted the degradation of forests. “One hundred and fifty hectares of forest cover have been denuded. The government needs to take more productive steps,” he said