BJP or Cong, Plan to stage comeback

The plan was shelved after social activist groups and the Catholic Church organised large-scale protests. The social wing of the Church8212;Council for Social Justice and Peace8212;made use of the services of eminent officials, including former Chief Planner of the Government of India, who studied the draft plan in detail and drew out its flaws.

However, legal observers in Goa note that the Plan has never been scrapped, only delayed till an opportunity presented itself. Monserrate had worked on the Plan while he was part of the BJP Government headed by Manohar Parrikar. He continued doing so when he propped up the Pratapsinh Rane Government of the Congress.

Though leaders from both the Congress and the BJP criticised the plan during the election campaign with Monserrate contesting on a United Goans Democratic Party ticket, leaders from all major political parties have cornered huge chunks of farmland with a view to reap windfall profits when the plan comes into force.

According to sources in the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, all major construction companies that are bringing out IPOs have cornered huge amounts of land to build townships in Goa. Sting operations by television channels indicated that many of them had paid off Monserrate to obtain clearances to convert agricultural land for residential use.

Sources from all major parties in Goa say that real estate companies have provided huge funds to the election campaigns of major politicians in a bid to get the proposed plan revived.

Monserrate, along with wife Jennifer, is contesting the Assembly polls on a UGDP ticket and is expected to win. The husband and wife duo are from the Taleigao and Santa Cruz constituencies on either side of Panaji, which is already seeing large-scale land development.

8220;Some of the politicians whose victory is almost foregone have also been threatened with physical violence if the Regional Plan is not passed,8221; a well-placed source linked to the highest offices in the state told this reporter.

However the main opponents of the plan, the Goa Bachao Abhiyan are on wait and watch mode. The group refused to contest the polls nor did they extend support to any candidate anticipating the revival of the plan under the new Government.

8220;We have not called off the agitation, only suspended it since the Government put the Regional Plan in cold storage. We will resume our agitation if any attempt is made to revive the plan under any guise,8221; Shridhar Kamat co-convener of the GBA told The Indian Express.

Complaint against Nirupam

PANAJI: The Goa Chief Electoral Officer8217;s office has complained to the Election Commission against Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam for violation of election code of conduct on Saturday. Nirupam, who was in the state to canvass for the Congress, was found around a polling booth in North Goa8217;s Santa Cruz constituency. The EC had asked all the Central leaders, who were in Goa for campaigning, to leave the state 48 hours before the polling starts. PTI