Calangute, Candolim VPs oppose NGPDA inclusion

CALANGUTE: Village panchayat members of Candolim and Calangute are gearing up to oppose the proposed inclusion of their villages in the North Goa planning and development authority.
Former chairperson of the NGPDA Agnelo Fernandes, who is also a former MLA of Calangute and controls the Candolim panchayat, said that they would oppose the inclusion of Candolim under the NGPDA and would go to court if necessary. Calangute panchayat member Joseph Sequeira too echoed similar sentiments and said members of both panchayats had held a joint meeting a few days ago to deliberate on the issue and would legally challenge any such order.
“There was a time when the Congress had decided to include these two villages under the NGPDA but the people had opposed it,” Agnelo said.
“The only reason why they’re doing it is because the BJP is not in control of the two village panchayats of Candolim and Calangute,” said Fermino Fernandes, panch of the Candolim panchayat, adding We have enough and good grounds to oppose it.
“Why are they only including Candolim and Calangute villages? There is no mention of Arpora-Nagoa and Parra villages which also come in Calangute constituency. They’ve not been included because the MLA Michael Lobo has control over those two villages. This would not have happened if Parrikar was still the CM. Now that the cat is away, the mice are at play,” Agnelo added.
Joseph Sequeira says, “The local MLA is short of power. He knows that he cannot do anything without the permission of the panchayat. He’s trying to make a backdoor entry through this. This is a big political move where they want to harass the public. When the order comes we will definitely challenge it in the appropriate legal forum.” MLA Michael Lobo, when contacted, said that the village panchayats are opposed because they want to control their areas by allowing all kinds of illegalities.