Margao: Hurt with constant accusation of allowing haphazard developmental activities leading to destruction of environment, Minister for Town and Country Planning (TCP) Vijai Sardesai has said that government is willing to ‘freeze’ all development in Salcete id there is unanimity among the people over such demand.
Minister was speaking at the cluster meeting for biodiversity management councils of Salcete held by the Goa state biodiversity board on Monday. Sardesai has urged the Council to pressurize their MLAs, if everyone feel so, and that he assure to freeze all development.
Sardesai said that he would stop giving approvals for constructions in Salcete and bring in a legislation that could freeze construction in the rural areas of the taluka.
“The debate should rather be on what Salcete wants,” Sardesai said. “I give you an open offer – if you feel that that real estate development is leading to killing of biodiversity, we will freeze Salcete, as it is today. I can do that. But to do that we need unanimity,” he added.
What triggered Sardesai’s statement that the Minister came under fire for promoting development at the cost of biodiversity.
He, however, clarified that ‘freeze’ on construction can’t be applied to Margao and Fatorda as they are urban areas.
