The St Cruz village panchayat seems to be completely in sync with its proposed inclusion into Planning and Development Authority (PDA). But this isn’t surprising because this is virtually Babush Monserrate territory. Its Congress MLA Tony Fernandes, for all practical purposes, was candidate loaned to the Congress, who speaks in his masters voice.
“RP21 will never happen and everyone knows this fact. Eleven years have passed since we are trying to have RP. In absence of RP, non planned development is mushrooming in the village in the name of development. Village panchayat, which also wants development, is helpless”, said Fernandes.
Clearly backing a plan to split the NGPDA into two or three bodies, by bringing in more villages in the ambit of what is mainly an urban planning body, MLA Fernandes said “Rather than waiting for RP, it is better to have a PDA and ODP in place. If such PDAs can work towards betterment of the village, I welcome it,” he stated confirming the news of inclusion of his village in PDA.
St Cruz is one amongst the largest villages in Goa with a population of 21,000, having being sub-divided into 11 wards. The village already has approved the Regional Plan 2021 (RP21) by recommending VP2 status and an increase FAR of 80 per cent, while protecting all the eco-sensitive areas, lakes, khazan lands, etc.
The village panchayat, as well as the local Congress MLA, are of the strong view that PDAs will help in planned development and put in place the required facilities like recreational centre, garbage treatment facility, by drafting outline development plan (ODP) for the village, while maintaining the land use pattern as marked in RP21.
With inclusion in PDA, villagers demand for VP2 status and an increase FAR of 80 per cent will be considered. The no-development zones marked in RP21 will continue to be the same.
The VP encompasses the areas of the villages of Calapur, Cujira and Cacra. The area has been under inhabitation for last several centuries and is thriving. There is immense pressure on the land and the same is felt due to the proximity of the village to the Capital City Panjim r sulting in increasing migration of the people.
“We have no problem with PDA provided it ensures welfare and better quality of life to the villagers, ensures proper utilisation of natural resources and develops the required infrastructure and facility. Everything will be in a planned manner,” Sarpanch Mariano Araujo said.
“But at the same time it should protect and conserve the fragile ecology and natural systems of the village and also should maintain the character of the village,” he added.
The sarpanch said that PDA will help in increase FAR for construction promoting vertical construction and also widening of road.
The St Cruz villagers talk about protection to khazan land and water bodies, which are breeding ground for variety of natural life, especially the fish. The large open tracks of the fields, separating Panjim and Taleigao from the village, provide the stretch of green belt and the same has to be conserved, they said.
GHAG opposes move to include Old Goa
VRISHANK MAHATME
vrishank@herald-goa.com
With the government trying to include Old Goa under the Planning Development Authority (PDA), the Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG) has feared that it will destroy the heritage sites as builders will try to bulldoze them in nexus with politicians. Speaking to Herald, GHAG Vice-Chairman Prajal Sakhardande said “We strongly oppose the inclusion of a heritage site of Old Goa in PDA. Within one km of the UNESCO notified sites there can be no development in fact it’s no development zone. Also there are other buffer zones of 100 and 300 meters around the monuments but Old Goa is seeing haphazard development and the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) rule of no development zone of one km are also being flouted.”
“If Old Goa is included under the PDA it will be a backdoor entry to builders in nexus with politicians who will always try to find ways to bulldoze the heritage. In fact the GSIDC is already desecrating the old historical fortification wall of Gaundalim near Old Goa. If such is done that UNESCO will de-notify the states only world heritage site” said Sakhardande. He further said that the ASI should strictly oppose the inclusion of Old Goa under the PDA as the builders will have bulldoze the area similarly the Kadamba heritage plateau is being devoured by constructions.
“We demand and request the Minister for Archaeology Vijai Sardesai to intervene and stop the inclusion of Old Goa under the PDA,” he added.