GBA gears up for showdown with govt on RP anomalies
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, DEC 5
The State Government should now prepare to face fireworks from Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) which is yet again gearing up to fight government on the issue of Regional Plan (RP).
The GBA activists which met in the city today to discuss RP came to the conclusion that the government has not been sincere with inculcating aspirations of Goans in RP 2021. The government has started notifying the new Regional Plan 2021, in stages and the first such plans for Canacona and Pernem talukas were notified recently.
GBA Convenor Sabina Martins said they demand that VP3 status should continue till finalization of the total RP as RP for only two talukas has been notified so far even as VP status has been accorded to all villages. Martins said many villages had sought VP 3 status. For instance, Carmona village in Salcete taluka had sought VP3 status but leave alone VP1 or VP2 status, it has been pushed in ODP. Currently, it is not clear whether ODPs will be part of RP or not, she said.
The State Level Committee (SLC) has rationalised two FARs for Goa, as VP1 and VP2. Hinterland areas have been allotted VP1 status with FAR of 80 whereas most coastal areas have been allotted VP2 status with FAR of 60.
A former bureaucrat Arvind Bhatikar pointed out that Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) can’t be a reality unless the government has clear policy on mining in forest area — there should be a policy how it will balance between economic activity and sustainable forest.
He said settlement zones have been marked arbitrarily and it lacks logic. So also policy on village panchayat status is highly undemocratic and illogical. Many speakers felt that the government has clearly faltered on this account.
Moreover, settlement strategy and village panchayat strategy is exactly opposite of what is required to achieve redistribution of population, he added.
Making his point Anil Madgaokar alleged that the government wants to get back 2011 RP through back door and is silent on 8500 individual suggestions it received from people of Goa.
On this count, Bhatikar said SLC which is finalizing RP 2021, has considerably ignored recommendations made by the Task Force and there is no transparency in the whole process.
One of the objection raised about includes exclusion of PDA and ODPs from RP. It was pointed out talukas such as Mormugao and Bardez will not be able to stop mega projects. Also, there is no explanation as to why settlement in one area is bigger than the other area.
It was further pointed out that smaller settlement zone in hinterland panchayats as against bigger settlement zone in coastal panchayat will not stop overcrowding in coastal areas.
The GBA has convened a meeting on Monday to deliberate on issues discussed today and decide future course of action.
