PROTESTORS HIT PANAJI STREETS, BLOCK DONA PAULA ROAD OVER SCRAPPING OF TCP ACT 39(A)
Panaji, March 21: In a dramatic turn of events, hundreds of protestors took to the streets of Panaji on Monday, demanding the scrapping of the controversial amendment to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act 39(A). The protestors, comprising activists, opposition leaders, and locals, marched from Azad Maidan to TCP Minister Vishwajeet Rane’s bungalow in Dona Paula, blocking the busy road and bringing traffic to a standstill.
The amendment, aimed at facilitating development in Goa, has been criticized for being misused by outsiders to acquire large tracts of land for commercial projects, allegedly at the expense of local farmers and the environment. The protestors claimed that fields, hills, and orchids have been converted and sold to outsiders, depriving locals of their rights.
As tensions escalated, the protestors gathered outside Minister Rane’s bungalow, chanting slogans and demanding his immediate resignation. The police had to deploy heavy security to ensure the minister’s safety.
The protest was led by Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao, who was accompanied by Congress Party leaders, Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, and Goa Forward leaders. The protestors also included youth activists and women from different parts of the state.
The protestors eventually dispersed around 11 pm after receiving news about the deteriorating health of fasting RG MLA Viresh Borkar.
Meanwhile, according to sources, the Chief Minister’s office has invited Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao and other political leaders for discussions on the ongoing issue. The invitation has been allegedly conveyed to the LoP and others, but they are yet to respond to the call.
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