PANJIM: The Comunidade of Taleigao has accused the government of carrying out improper survey to prepare the Outline Development Plan (ODP) 2028, which it alleges is not in the interest of the village.
In this regard the Comunidade has filed a Public Interest Litigation before the High Court of Bombay at Goa against the State government, Town & Country Planning, Greater Panaji Planning & Development Authority and Taleigao Village Panchayat.
In the petition, the Comunidade has alleged that local bodies were not consulted while drafting and finalising the ODP.
“The respondents have not carried out a proper survey of the village so as to ascertain and demarcate areas reserved for agriculture, settlement, recreation, etc, the need for roads and other infrastructure and the present capacity of Taleigao to sustain increase in development. Taleigao used to be largely an agrarian village which has been destroyed by unplanned and illegal development,” the 62-page petition states urging court’s direction to quash the plan.
The petitioner has stated that while preparing the ODP, the respondents did not keep in mind relevant and important issues such as demarcation of areas for agriculture, preservation of ecologically sensitive areas, planned development, conservation of land for purpose of agriculture etc, as mandated by various provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act.
“The manner in which the ODP has been prepared affects the purpose of planning and is not in the interests of Taleigao Village. The ODP has been finalised without application of mind and in breach of the provision of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act and the rules framed there under,” it alleged further stating, “The ODP ought to have been prepared by constituting a committee of experts in the field of planning who could have conducted a detailed study of various aspects concerning the village which could be impacted by the ODP by adopting a scientific and professional approach and then advised/guided the GPPDA,” the petition states.
The villagers of Taleigao had no say in the finalization of the ODP, though it concerns their village. Thus, the petitioner maintained the respondents acted arbitrarily and in breach of the Constitutional provisions.
The PIL has sought an order from the High Court quashing the ODP 2028 which was notified by the government in February 2019. Among other directions, the petition prayed that GPPDA be directed to prepare a fresh ODP by following the relevant laws and in a scientific and professional manner. Interestingly, the government has recently appointed Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate as the chairman of the GPPDA.
