MARGAO: The Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA), and the Cansaulim villagers will hold a meeting with those concerned, about development being carried out across the state, informed a press note issued here.

The GBA and the other groups have decided to re-start the protest to bring to the attention of the state government and administration, that patience has run out among the people of Goa, and the delaying tactics will no longer work.

The NGO argued that while the Cansaulim gram sabha had resolved that no multi-dwelling units would be approved by the village panchayat without first referring it to the gram sabha in 2009, construction licences for the same continue to be given even in 2010. It also alleged that there are constructions being given licences in low-lying paddy fields intentionally left fallow.

A major issue of the villagers is the change in the demography of the wards, with the advent of multi-storeyed, multi-dwelling buildings amidst the ground level single-unit residences.

The meeting will be addressed by the villagers of Cansaulim, including Dr Marconi Correia and Ms Sheila Gracias, and also by the representatives of the GBA, including its convenor, Dr Sabina Martins, Mr Aravind Bhatikar and Fr Maverick Fernandes of CSJP. The meeting will seek to find solutions and evolve a concept of development for the village.

The GBA will also release for South Goa its booklet on ‘Village Development Plan 2010’ prepared by the villagers through a workshop held in May 2009, at Nachinola VP, in association with the Village Level Committee, elected village panchayat body, the zilla panchayat member Aldona-Nachinola-Moira, and facilitated by GBA in association with Maithri from Kottayam District-Kerala. The booklet contains the village development plan proposed by the Directorate of Panchayats, as
per the Goa Panchayati Raj Act-1994, to be completed by every village panchayat by November 1, each year.