Team Herald

PORVORIM: After missing out on a series of deadlines over the last five years, the BJP-led coalition government has set December 31, 2017 as the date to finalise the contentious Regional Plan 2021 (RP21).

Placing the Budget 2017-18 on the Floor of the House on Friday, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar informed the Legislative Assembly that RP21 for the talukas of Sattari, Canacona and Pernem has been rectified and is in the final stage of notification. 

“Government desires to complete the process of all the talukas and notify the RP21 by December 31, 2017,” he said. 

The previous government’s last deadline was December 2016, however, it failed to meet it. 

The Chief Minister said that during his earlier tenure (2012-14) he had initiated a new vision programme to develop a ‘Town Planning Scheme’ at down town Mapusa, which would be notified this financial year. “Government intends to take up such schemes in other areas, wherever suitable land parcels are available,” he said.

The Budget proposes to establish a ‘GIS Platform’ for the State by involving all land user departments, creating a centralised GIS data base for the State and up to date information of all activities. This will benefit people, who need to access information of departments and their activities.