Preserving Goan villages
Sylvester D’Souza
In a recent statement our Chief Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar, said the RP 2021 will be kept open for the people of Goa for their review, comments and suggestions. He also said that guidelines will be issued by TCP for proper understanding of the plan.
Our Goan villages have a distinct character unlike villages in other parts of India. Village houses with Indo-Portuguese architecture and extensive orchards, plantations and paddy fields give villages an enviable landscape appreciated by foreign and local tourists alike over the years. This is one reason why tourists make a beeline to Goa and every outsider wants to make Goa his or her home. Practically, every non-Goan government servant working in Goa after retirement is reluctant to go back to their native village and settles in Goa for its peace, tranquility and good cultural and social activities.
The unique character of our Goan villages has to be maintained for which certain guidelines have to be adhered to when finalizing RP 2021.
1. In the RP 2021, the FAR has been kept as 60 (VP2) and maximum coverage in residential zones S1, S2, S3, S4 is 40 per cent of plot area. Also, the maximum height in these zones is 9 metres. Now 9 m height allows ground plus 2 floors which is undesirable in villages. The houses should be maximum ground plus one so as to keep the house at the height of average trees around. A classic example of this is the Kala Academy building in Panjim city, which is only ground plus one and nicely nestles within the existing tree cover. Architect Charles Correia has kept the height low and that is what makes it a master piece. Some villages have been given VP1 (80 FAR) status. This should be cancelled and uniform VP2 (60 FAR) should be kept.
2. Large housing schemes of flats and duplexes having more than six to eight apartments should not be allowed in a village as these type of gated communities destroys the very essence of the free and carefree atmosphere which has been the plus point of village life.
3. Every village should have adequate playgrounds for recreation and sports activities. Also a market, community centre for cultural activities, police station and a garbage disposal centre for treatment of dry and wet waste.
4. Commercial zones should be never allowed in villages as they are likely to be misused by builders to build 100 per cent residential units. The five per cent residential allowable in commercial zones has to be brought back by an amendment. Actually restricted commercial activity is allowed in residential zones and hence, commercial zones are not required.
5. No development should be allowed in thickly wooded orchard zones as this destroys tree cover which is very essential in a village.
6. All ODP (outline development) areas should form a part of the regional plan as the plan is for all of Goa.
7. Finally, every village should be treated as a conservation area just as we have conservation areas in cities and towns like Campal, Fontainhas in Panjim and Largo da Igreja in Margao. It is only when we treat the village in this way that our villages will be preserved for posterity.
