SHWETA KAMAT
shweta@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Almost five years after it was kept on ‘hold’, the fate of the Regional Plan 2021 now hangs in balance, as the BJP-led coalition government will be using RP 2001 as the base plan for land use in the State.
RP 2001 will also be used as the base plan while drafting the Transferable Development Rights (TDR) policy, but where eco-sensitive zones are concerned, it will be those marked in RP21 that will be adhered to.
“We are going ahead with RP 2001 as a base plan for every decision across the State. In such a situation the fate of RP 2021 hangs in balance,” Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vijai Sardesai told Herald.
He added that this is one of the reasons why the government will be seeking legal advice on the status of RP 2021.
On this, Sardesai has issued specific directions to the department to submit the detailed status of RP 2021, which will be forwarded for legal advice. The government wants to take legal opinion before taking a decision to ensure that there is no judicial challenge to it.
“Government has resolved to seek legal view either through a retired or sitting High Court judge to decide on the status of RP 2021. We have to study the status of RP 2021 and whether it has legal sanctity at this stage,” Sardesai said.
“If we remember, the plan was kept on hold somewhere in April 2012. On ground, we are making use of RP 2001 as the base plan for every decision. For practical purposes, RP 2021 is on hold,” he added.
“I have asked for a detailed concept paper from the department to know the current status of RP 2021. I want to know officially on paper, whether our department has made any commitment like the plan is in force, etc,” the Minister said. He also mentioned that only four years are left for RP 2021 to end and hence, there is need for fresh planning.
In an earlier order the government had said, “Until finalisation of the new plan, government will consider the positive and similar points of both – 2021 and 2001 plans – while processing applications for various projects. However, though the 2001 plan would be used as a reference plan, the FAR policy and the height of the buildings, categorisation of village panchayats (VP1 and VP2) would be done as per RP 21.”
The order had also stated that the eco-sensitive zoning of RP 2021 shall also be strictly adhered to while deciding on permissions to be issued.
Responding to the same, Sardesai said, “There are some good features like demarcation of eco-sensitive areas, in RP 2021. We will make use of those salient features, while drafting the new TDR policy. We will adopt the good features of RP 2021, but RP 2001 will be used as base plan while drafting the TDR policy.”
The work on drafting the TDR policy is expected to commence only after end of the current financial year in March 2018.
