Under Fire, Govt Bows to Pressure—Margao Draft Plan Goes Public

Under mounting pressure from citizens and civic groups, the Goa government and the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) have finally agreed to hold a public presentation of the Draft Master Plan 2041 for Margao city. The presentation is scheduled for June 19, 2025, at 10:30 AM at the MMC hall.

Savio Coutinho, Convener of the Margao Block Congress and Shadow Council for Margao, hailed the move as a "victory for public participation," urging residents, activists, and all stakeholders to attend and scrutinize the plan thoroughly. “It’s crucial to identify which proposals will benefit Margao—and which could harm it,” he said.

Coutinho did not hold back in criticizing local MLA Digambar Kamat, labeling him the “mastermind” behind earlier efforts to advance the plan without public engagement. He alleged that a closed-door presentation on January 28, 2024, was shown only to MMC councillors—of whom only 25% were present. A follow-up presentation at Hotel Metropole, he claimed, was attended mostly by real estate developers, with entry denied to concerned citizens.

According to Coutinho, the public presentation was only granted after sustained advocacy, RTI petitions, and multiple complaints to the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA). “It’s a step forward, albeit a delayed one,” he said.

He further called for the Draft Master Plan 2041 to be uploaded on the MMC’s newly launched website, along with a clearly defined window for the public to file objections and suggestions.

“The people of Margao must be meaningfully included in shaping the future of their city,” Coutinho asserted, urging full public participation in the upcoming session.