Team Herald
PANJIM: Arpora, Nagoa and Parra villages will now be part of the Calangute-Candolim Outline Development Plan (ODP), the draft of which was notified in November last year. Besides, the fast growing Kadamba Plateau will now be a new full-fledged ODP bifurcating it from the Panjim plan.
Addressing media persons on Monday, North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) chairman Michael Lobo said the board has written to the government seeking its approval to review the process of finalising the Candolim-Calangute ODP.
“The Arpora, Nagoa and Parra areas will be now incorporated in the ODP. The FAR would be increased to 80 percent and 100 percent as per the demand. The hotels will get 100 percent FAR,” he said adding that NGPDA has sought an additional 60 days to keep the ODP open for public suggestions and objections.
The draft ODP had been notified last year on November 23, 2016, and placed in public domain for suggestions and objections for a period of 60 days. “The last date for receiving suggestions and objections from the people ended in January. But due to election code of conduct, the process got stalled. Now, we have written to the government asking for additional 60 days time to seek public inputs.”
With the recommencement of the process to finalise the draft plans, the authority will appoint a sub-committee to consider suggestions and objections from the people and submit a report with its recommendations.
Lobo, also the Deputy Speaker, said that NGPDA is in the process of declaring Kadamba Plateau as a new ODP with 100 percent FAR. “The plateau was earlier part of Panjim ODP. Now we have taken it out and declaring it as new ODP. It is quite a well-developed area,” he explained.
“Lot of requests are coming from the locals that the existing FAR there is only 50 percent that is they can construct only ground plus one floor,” he said. “They want the FAR to be increased to 100 percent so that their children can build ground plus two floors,” the BJP MLA stated.
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NGPDA open to review Panjim ODP
NGPDA Chairman Michael Lobo said the authority is open for a review of the Panjim ODP provided the government grants permission.
“If anyone feels we have not consulted them then we are open for review. But will have to seek the government view,” he said
Lobo was reacting to the petition filed by Panjim Mayor Surendra Furtado and 15 CCP councilors before the High Court seeking that the Panjim ODP 2021 be scrapped as it was passed by NGPDA without their approval. The court has admitted the petition.
