Panaji (Goa) 

Extending full support to the villagers demand, St Cruz MLA Tony Fernandes today assured to take up the matter before State Assembly demanding that the villages from the constituency be de-notified as part of planning and development areas (PDA).

The MLA has threatened to resign from the Greater Panjim PDA if the demand is not met.

The St Cruz villagers and the members of the Village Development Committee (VDC) this afternoon called on Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar with a demand to discuss the matter on the Floor of the House during the forthcoming budget session so as to obtain assurance from TCP Minister Vijay Sardessai to de-notify areas of villages of Calapur and Cujira from inclusion in the Bambolim PDA.

“St Cruz village has been included in parts in the Bambolim PDA selectively. Only the rich Bio-diversity land and natural resources like fields, Bondvoll Lake and hills have been included within the PDA jurisdiction,” the villagers alleged in their representation to Congress Legislative party (CLP).

MLA said that he is with the people of St Cruz and demand that the villages be de-notified as part of PDA. “If our demand is not met, I will resign as member of Greater Panjim PDA,” he stated.