What does Chief Town Planner S Puttaraju hope to gain by his earth shattering revelation that the Charles Correa-led committee that prepared the RP 2021 had earmarked five sites for setting up eco tourism projects that included golf courses at Tiracol and Keri.
By selectively granting approvals to piece meal projects for obvious reasons and then whitewashing its decision by using Charles Correa and his panel, the TCP cannot lend legitimacy to its adhoc manner of functioning. After all, the Chief Town Planner of all people should be aware that what Charles Correa and his panel had approved remains totally irrelevant as long as the Regional Plan 2021 has not been notified by the government.
Putturaju should also clarify if the Charles Correa-led panel was not given a mandate by the then state government to prepare the Regional Plan on the basis that Mopa was to be the State Airport. So what would be the status of the Regional Plan when the inherent contradictions and illegitimacies upon which the Mopa Airport project was conceived, ensure that the Airport does not come up? How would that Regional Plan be efficient and workable in the light of Dabolim continuing to be Goa’s Airport? Putturaju should tell the people the whole story and not scatter selective gems of wisdom to suit the convenience of the TCP, the state government and of course Leading Hotels.
