PANJIM: A fresh announcement on implementation of Regional Plan 2021 is expected by the end of this month.
Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza, who holds the Town and Country Planning (TCP) portfolio, is of the strong view that the land plan can be implemented in parts where there are no objections to it. The minister has admitted that physical verification was not done while drafting the plan leading to a mess in its implementation.
In the last 33 months that it has been in power, the BJP-led government has failed to tackle the Regional Plan 2021 imbroglio, attracting serve criticism from various sections of society. Hence D’Souza has decided to settle issues pertaining to the RP and implement the plan in full before the State goes to elections in 2017.
“It’s high time to act on the plan. A lot of time is being wasted, apparently due to the mess created in drafting the plan. I am committed to implement the best plan as per everyone’s satisfaction by end of our term,” D’Souza told Herald. The minister sounded reluctant to place the plan before the people again, but said that villages that had major objections would get a chance to have their say on the plan.
D’Souza was allotted the TCP portfolio by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on November 15. The department was earlier held by the former Chief Minister and present Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
In less than a month, D’Souza has held three meetings with the Chief Town Planner S T Putturaju, who briefed him in detail about the present status of the plan. The minister was informed that government has received 3,500 objections and suggestions to the plan while of the total 189 village panchayats, 15 VPs have raised strong and severe objections. Directions are issued to department to compile all the suggestions and objections and study and put it up before government.
“In a democracy, if a majority of the people are satisfied then the government is happy. Here, too, only 15 VPs have major objections which will be discussed and settled. For that I don’t feel we have to put out the entire plan before the public,” he said.
D’Souza has scheduled a special meeting on RP with Parrikar on December 6, to chalk out the future course of action on the plan. Parrikar will be on a two-day visit to Goa on December 6 and 7.
“Before taking any decision, I will consult former Chief Minister and present Chief Minister,” D’Souza said adding that the meeting with Parsekar on November 26 was called off due to some other assignments.
“By the end of this month, first announcement with regards to implementation of RP will be made,” the minister said, adding that he would hold a series of meetings with the stakeholders including village panchayats and members of Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) to hear their views.
