Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Bachao Abhiyan has questioned the government’s intent in delaying the Regional Plan (RP) yet again and making contradictory statements on the plans.
After chairing the GBA meeting on Monday, Convenor Sabina Martins stated that multiple statements are being issued on the RP and Outline Development Plans (ODP) exposing the confusion of the government, which treats the RP 2021 and the ODPs as two distinct entities exclusive of each other, in complete contradiction to planning norms.
She said, “With a TCP minister who has ‘Goenkarponn’ at heart, we expect to have a clear process and criteria in place for protection of our eco-systems and Goan identity established before any work on the RP-2021 or RP-2031 commences. The guidelines sought to have been framed by the Task Force on RP 2021 created in October, 2007, need to be finalised now at the very least. GBA will welcome any honest and meaningful dialogue with regard to planning.”
Citing examples of the court cases against the ODPs, Martins said that the ODPs for municipalities have been reduced to a single point agenda of increasing built-up area (FAR).
“In an astonishing act against due process and probably a first of its kind, the Corporation of Panaji was bypassed in the case of revisiting the ODP. So arbitrary was the last government in its planning, that three of its ODPs have been challenged in courts. Proper process of consultation with local self government and stakeholders needs to be put in place and District Planning Committees activated to complete the process for each of the two districts as mandated by the Constitution of India. The State government has been losing Central funds for development by not following the due process. This has been highlighted by the South Goa Zilla Panchayat,” she added.
