Goa Forward Party President and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai launched a scathing attack on the draft Margao Masterplan 2041, calling it a top-down scheme that lacks public consultation and fails to reflect the aspirations of the local community.
Sardesai described the plan as a “Master’s Plan, not a People’s Plan,” following a presentation by the Margao Municipal Council’s appointed consultant to Fatorda councillors and stakeholders.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Sardesai alleged that the draft proposes converting large portions of actively cultivated agricultural fields in Fatorda into urban design features such as "sponge parks" under public-private partnership (PPP) models.
“This is a deliberate attempt to convert fertile fields into commercial projects. Even though GSUDA acquired these lands 15 years ago, farmers have continued cultivating them. Now the ‘Master’ is eyeing them again,” he said.
While welcoming certain features of the plan—such as proposals for electric shuttle services and heritage conservation—Sardesai questioned the government’s capacity to implement them.
“These are good ideas on paper, but who will fund them? Under what scheme? The consultant had no answers, and the government remained silent. This is clearly a hastily-prepared plan,” he claimed.
With municipal elections scheduled for 2026, Sardesai urged residents of Fatorda and Margao to reject the current draft and instead push for a “People’s Plan” developed with community involvement. “This is our mission—to bring forth a plan that reflects what the people want, not what is imposed on them,” he said.
In a strongly worded appeal, Sardesai also reiterated his demand to restore the sacred Dambab Talli water body in Fatorda to public hands. The site, which lies in front of a local shrine, is currently in the possession of private entity Chowgule.
“All water bodies in Goa are vested with the Water Resources Department. Our Gramdev cannot be anyone’s mundkar,” he said, referring to tenant rights under Goan land law. Sardesai expressed dismay that keys had to be obtained from the private owner even during the recent visit by the Governor of Goa.
The Fatorda MLA said he would take up the issue in the upcoming Assembly session and submit a formal request to the Governor. “Devotees should never need permission to perform rituals at a sacred site. The Dambab Talli must be returned to the people,” he declared.