PANJIM: In a bid to keep the villages green and eco-friendly, rectifications in the Regional Plan 2021 (RP21) will focus on development in towns and coastal areas, while keeping the villages intact. Data from Census 2011, forest and agricultural cover will be considered while making corrections to the land plan.
The government is currently in the process of constituting a State Level Scrutiny Committee to scrutinize the 5800 fresh comments and views received to rectify RP 21.
Speaking to Herald, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Town and Country Planning (TCP) Francis D’Souza said the land plan will ensure that villages remain intact and that development is concentrated in towns, urban and coastal areas. “Our aim is to keep the villages green and eco-friendly,” he said.
“Several villages in talukas like Sattari, Dharbandora, Sanguem are still green. We want to keep them intact. Green and environmental-friendly villages,” D’Souza said, adding that the rectification process will commence from next month, post scrutiny of applications.
The minister said that with the focus being on vertical development, the government intends to increase the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in towns and coastal areas. “Land is in short supply. Therefore, the focus needs to be on vertical development and not on horizontal progress. Increase in FAR is the only option,” he added.
D’Souza said that as per the latest census report, there are several coastal village panchayats that are urban in nature and in those coastal belts development can be allowed.
The TCP department had opened the land plan for fresh public suggestions and comments on December 1, 2015. The month-long deadline was extended to January 18, following public pressure. During this period, TCP received 5800 fresh inputs.
Earlier, the government had received 3500-odd applications with comments and suggestions. All these inputs will be taken into consideration while undertaking rectification.
