PANJIM: Reiterating the government’s commitment to draft and implement the Regional Plan for the state till 2025, Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza, who holds the Town and Country Planning portfolio said, on Wednesday, that the present land use plan could be put in place for 174 village panchayats, in a phased manner, from the coming financial year.
These 174 panchayats are those which according to the government had not raised any objections to the present RP2021.
The minister maintained that of the total 189 village panchayats, 15 VP have raised objections to the plan. “That means 174 VP have no objections. So, we do not have to scrap the plan. Why do all need to suffer?” he asked.
Speaking to Herald, D’Souza, however, reiterated that there was no possibility of de-notifying the existing plan and drafting a fresh plan. “But the final call on this will be taken by the chief minister,” he said.
The deputy chief minister said that there was a possibility that the state might implement the existing RP in a phased manner, from the coming financial year, in those 174 village panchayats which had not raised any objections to the plan. “This is one of the options currently being discussed, as the issue cannot be dragged further,” he said. The idea arose following a recent meeting with the Town and Country Planning officials.
A special meeting to chalk out a programme on how to implement the plan has been scheduled between Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, D’Souza, the chief secretary and TCP officials later this week.
“The meeting will come out with modalities on how the Regional Plan can be put in place,” D’Souza said.
