PANJIM: The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) has reiterated its disagreement with the processes on the formulation of the Goa Regional Plan-2021 which it says has been repeatedly expressed to the Goa Government on several occasions since 2005.
The Council has demanded that the Regional Plan 2021 be kept in abeyance until such time wherein the Town and Country Planning Act for Goa is amended to grant the Constitutional space to the local self-governments in the planning process as envisaged in the 73rd and 74th Constitution Amendments.
In a statement, Fr Savio Fernandes, Executive Secretary CSJP criticised the recent move to open the RP-2021 for public suggestions.
“The move appears more of an excuse to accommodate land use changes by appearing to give an impression that the planning is participatory, transparent and accountable,” Fr Savio says.
He says that the Council continues to hold that the Town and Country Planning Act, 1975 is archaic and obsolete in the aftermath of the 73rd and 74th Constitution Amendments.
“With such laws driving Regional Planning in Goa, the RP-2021 is seriously deficient and in conflict with the powers of the local self-governments as guaranteed by the Constitution of India. In such a situation it can only be expected that the government is not serious in scientific planning but keeping loopholes to go round in circles and engage the public in a futile exercise,” he said.
