Rane concedes denotification of controversial Regional Plan in 'toto

Panaji, Jan 26 (UNI) Chief minister Pratapsingh Rane today conceded the demand for withdrawal of the controversial Regional Plan 2011 in 'toto'.

Talking to UNI, the Chief Minister said the plan would be denotified with ''retrospective effect'' from August 10, 2006, in deference to the wishes expressed by general public and also his Congress party colleagues and others.

The Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA), a conglomeration of NGOs, besides various political parties had been demanding scrapping of the RP-2011 as they feared it would deface the very contours of Goa besides threatening its fragile environment.

While the GBA declared it would not rest till the government conceded the demand, the BJP opposition had organised a silent demonstration with placards and black bandages round their left arms as Governor S C Jamir addressed the inaugural Winter session of the State Legislative Assembly on January 22.

The issue had last month forced resignation of town and country planning minister Atanasio Monserrate giving a free hand to the Chief Minister to deal with the issue.

The CM had since been holding the additional portfolio. He also told the House that he would examine the demand for denotifying the plan with retrospective effect from August 10, 2006.

UNI