
Reacting to the recent scrapping of Outline Development Plans (ODPs) in Goa, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has clarified that the ODPs prepared during his tenure as Chairman of the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) between 2017 and 2022 were not the ones rejected by the High Court.
Speaking to the media, Lobo defended the ODP drafted under his leadership, stating that it remained in force for five years without any objections from the High Court.
“The ODP drafted by us worked from 2017 to 2022. The High Court never said it was improper,” Lobo said, adding that the plans which have now been struck down had been modified after his tenure. “Corrections were made later. The media should investigate who made those changes.”
Lobo also highlighted that residents of Candolim and Calangute had benefitted from the ODP implemented during his term, and reiterated his support for the original version created by the NGPDA during his leadership.
His comments come in the wake of heightened scrutiny over planning and zoning regulations in the state, with concerns being raised about arbitrary changes and the lack of public consultation in later ODP drafts.