Citizens of Margao have formally objected to the Draft Margao Master Plan 2041, raising serious concerns about the planning process and demanding greater community involvement in shaping the city's future. The objections were submitted to the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) by Goyche FudlePilghe Khatir (GFPK), with a copy being submitted to the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA).
The controversy stems from the recent public meeting at the MMC hall where the Mumbai-based consultant presented the draft plan on behalf of GSUDA. During the presentation, the consultant clarified that the master plan is non-statutory and merely supplements the existing Outline Development Plan (ODP) rather than replacing it, a clarification that has sparked further concern among citizens.
GFPK's primary objection centres on the foundation of the master plan itself, arguing that since it supplements the existing ODP of Margao, which has been widely criticized as flawed and is currently under review by the High Court following citizen petitions, any planning based on this controversial document would inherit the same fundamental problems. The group contends that building upon a challenged and unacceptable ODP will only perpetuate controversy and doubt in the planning process.
The citizen's group has strongly criticized the exclusion of stakeholders from the planning process. "The Master Plan 2041, was never initiated for sourcing vision and ideas amongst the stakeholders, and instead it's only been shared as a final Plan, merely reducing the stakeholder's involvement to a spectator in a top-down approach rather than ensuring democratic participation in Margao's future," said GFPK President Jack Mascarenhas.
The group has raised serious concerns about the plan's disconnect from ground realities. "The plan fails to address the ground realities of a congested and saturated city. It appears more like a dream being sold to the public, ignoring the practical challenges Margao faces daily-mobility, garbage, parking, pollution, slums, sewage, infrastructure," Mascarenhas emphasized. GFPK warns that without realistic ground data, the theoretical approach will only create long-term problems.
The citizens have expressed surprise at the proposal for a heritage zone when there appears to be no realistic scope for expansion. They argue that the plan lacks sensitivity and awareness regarding Margao's heritage value, open spaces, recreational needs, green cover, climate change risks, water body pollution, runoffs, agricultural fields, and low-lying flood plains.
A significant concern raised by the group involves basic jurisdictional confusion, noting that the presenters and planners were unclear about whether the Master Plan covers only Margao city or includes the entire Municipal Council jurisdiction, which encompasses Fatorda. This fundamental oversight has led citizens to question the entire planning exercise.
Environmental concerns feature prominently in the objections, particularly regarding the Sal River, which GFPK describes as a vital part of Margao that has not been given adequate priority. The group emphasizes that a healthy river is essential for a well-planned city, yet the current plan fails to address environmental challenges adequately.
The citizens have also highlighted the absence of calculated or transparent approaches to critical urban issues including density management, commerce planning, traffic solutions, service provision, food requirements, fresh air quality, drinking water supply, and waste management. They lamented that this lack of comprehensive planning undermines public confidence and makes the process appear as what they term a ‘theoretical experiment on city residents by outsiders’.
GFPK described the stakeholder presentation as an exercise in futility that left both presenters and participants frustrated. Rather than clarifying the city's future direction, the presentation reportedly added to the confusion among Margao's already concerned citizens.
Thus, GFPK has demanded that the ODP of Margao be finalized first with people's participation, followed by stakeholder meetings to consult on all Master Plan-related issues at the conceptual stage. They are calling for comprehensive data collection on all parameters to be gathered and shared publicly, with priority areas identified for primary attention in the Master Plan before addressing secondary issues.
The citizen's group has urged authorities to approach the Margao Master Plan as a community effort with a bottom-up approach, emphasizing the need for collective participation in shaping the city's future. They await further developments on the matter while maintaining their stance that meaningful community involvement is essential for any successful urban planning initiative in Margao.