BJP MLAs for scrapping of TCP’s Sec 39A

Panaji: Governing party MLAs met on Friday, with the demand to scrap Section 39A of the TCP Act, completion of the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2019, and issues concerning taxis, coal-handling, and recruitment through the Goa Staff Selection Commission (SSC) among the topics that dominated the meeting.

A meeting chaired by chief minister Pramod Sawant was attended by BJP, MGP and independent MLAs, during which legislators crossed swords over alliance issues and financial management, among others.

Cumbharjua MLA Rajesh Phaldesai raised the controversial issue of land conversion under Section 39A of the TCP Act and demanded that the chief minister intervene and scrap the section.

Phaldesai told Sawant that while he was able to reverse the conversion of land under Section 39A in his constituency, the process was still valid in other constituencies, as a result of which MLAs had to face the brunt of public anger.

MGP MLA Jit Arolkar raised the issue of the finalisation of CZMP 2019 and unresolved taxi issues. Goa faced criticism over taxi fares, with cab operators thwarting the introduction of app-based aggregators to operate taxis in the state.

Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said the govt should introduce a digital taxi policy within 1.5 months, which will help not only taxi owners but also tourists who seek transparency while booking a cab.

WRD minister Subhash Shirodkar hit out at MGP as it planned to open an election office in his Shiroda constituency. Pointing to MGP MLA and power minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar, Shirodkar said that if MGP opened an election office in the Shiroda constituency, he would open an office in the Marcaim constituency, which is represented by Dhavalikar.

Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte discussed the issue of recruitment through the SSC and said it created confusion in the minds of job-seekers.

Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar raised the issue of coal-handling at the Mormugao Port Authority, saying it was creating pollution in the port town. Sawant told him to raise the issue at the time of the Union ports minister visiting the state.

The chief minister also briefed the MLAs on his Delhi visit and the programmes that were taken up by the party, including planting of trees along national highways.