Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Feb 24: Tension prevailed in the state capital on Monday as several hundred protesters marched to the private residence of Goa Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vishwajit Rane, demanding the scrapping of Section 39A of the TCP Act, which permits conversion of land from non-settlement zone to settlement zone.
The protest comes amid growing opposition to the controversial provision, with agitators alleging that it paves the way for unchecked construction activities and large-scale land-use changes.
Opposition parties, led by Viresh Borkar of the Revolutionary Goans Party, have been staging a protest at Azad Maidan in Panaji for the past two days. Borkar, who has launched an indefinite hunger strike, is demanding immediate repeal of Section 39A and has also sought suspension of police personnel allegedly involved in manhandling him and his supporters during the agitation.
The agitators had set a 4 pm deadline for the state government to respond to their demands. With no assurance forthcoming, the protesters began a march of nearly five kilometres to Dona Paula, where the minister’s private residence is located.
An official said the crowd gathered outside the residence and continued raising slogans against the government, calling for the withdrawal of the contentious provision.
Among those participating in the stir were Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, MLAs Venzy Viegas and Carlos Ferreira, Revolutionary Goans Party chief Manoj Parab and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee vice president Sunil Kawthankar.
Reacting to the developments, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that while citizens have the right to protest, agitations should be conducted within limits.
“They can give proper representation to the collector. No one has stopped them from talking, but it is not right to take a morcha to the residence of the minister. They should discuss the issue at the appropriate forum,” Sawant said.
The Chief Minister added that police are maintaining law and order and urged the agitators to maintain decorum during their protest.
Security was tightened in the Dona Paula area to prevent any untoward incidents, even as political tempers continued to flare over the contentious TCP amendment.