from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Jan 19: Finally, the Goa government bowed down to the public pressure that snowballed in the form of  a two-month-long anti-regional plan 2011 agitation when the chief minister pratapsingh rane himself declared the denotification of the controversial document.

The moment capped an intensive fight initiated by green activists and firmly supported by media and public aimed at Saving Goa’s green cover and sandy beaches.

Otherwise stubborn Congress party, which earlier this week had decided that the plan be referred back to experts and had refused to scrap or denotify it, had to bend down on their knees. Former town and country planning minister Babush Monserratte, a brain behind the controversial plan, himself moved a resolution to denotify it. The chief minister made no bones in accepting the resolution and immediately declared his wish to do away with this plan, which saw much mud slinging on the congress party.

The two-hour-long crucial Congress legislative party and cabinet meetings ended with the pleasant surprise to the anti-regional plan activists, who must not have thought that the decision would so fast.

“We welcome the decision but at a cautious note. We urge people to be vigilant,” Dr Oscar Rebello, convener, Goa Bachao Abhiyaan (GBSA) told reporters at the residence of Patricia Pinto, another green activist. Pinto’s residence was virtually turned into GBA office in the recent past.

The doe-eyed medical practitioner, who otherwise was seen restricted to four walls of his clinic in Kamat Tower in Panaji city, had become a mass leader in last couple of months. The doctor, who earlier was found debating on NDTV on politics and Dhirio (Goa Plus) on Gandhigiri, was found himself walking like Mahatma with thousands of people following him. This young doc, in his late 30s, coupled with other social activists, managed to win a war which saw mighty politician putting down his papers from state cabinet.

“Many people told me that you don’t know with whom you are messing around… they will kidnap your daughter… but the point is very simple… they may or may not kidnap now but if such things continues kidnappings are surely be going to take place after next ten years,” Dr Rebello was quoted by CNN-IBN news channel in their report.

So finally, the victorious moment came on January 18, coincidentally a month after massive Panaji rally on December 18 which kicked off the campaign.