The decision of Goa government to scrap all Outline Development Plans (ODPs) that were either finalised or were in the process of being finalized (except for the Margao ODP as the same is yet to be drafted) has evoked sharp reactions from the builders lobby and political leaders from Mormugao Taluka.
Herald inquiries revealed that the draft ODP for Vasco da Gama Planing area-2026 was approved by the TCP board and order was issued by the Chief Town Planner on August 1 2016 informing that government has approved the draft ODP-2026. Later the notification for the final ODP-2026 for Vasco planning area was issued in the official gazette on December 26 2016. Based on the same MPDA had cleared several housing projects including single and multi dwelling projects. Many people even commenced with their construction as per the new ODP but now if the ODP is opened again then the crucial question that remains unanswered is ‘where would these projects stand’.
Town and country planning (TCP) minister Vijai Sardesai states that the decision to scrap ODP’s including Vasco ODP was taken because proper procedure were not followed or procedural lapses were seen. “This is being done for transparency. Any plan has to be transparent and has to be holistic and that is what we have done.
The builders aren’t happy. According to them, it took several months to complete all tedious procedures to finalise planning documents and many even started with their construction as per the new ODP for Vasco planning area-2026, but if the new decision of the state government is implemented then everything will come to standstill and people might have to face undue loss which might run into several crores.
“I don’t understand as to why Town and country planning (TCP) minister Vijai Sardesai took such a decision to scrap Vasco ODP along with other ODP’s. It’s like Vasco is punished for the mistakes done by the people from other area. If some ODPs had been drafted without following due processes then take decision on such ODP’s, but why do people from Vasco planning area need to get punished” said Nazir Khan a builder from Vasco.
Sardesai retorted “Ask them to show if they have prepared comprehensive land use plan or land use register. Since it was not done in many ODP’s I have mandated it. Shortcuts cannot be allowed and that goes also for the ODP where I am the MLA. Planning is not about changing zone, but it should be a vision document for years to come,” he said.
Social activist Navil Mainkar said that “I think government has been unfair to the people of Vasco as due to non appointment of Authority at Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA) development in Mormugao had come to halt for over one year and now if OPD is scrapped then the same will again hamper ongoing development”
Mainkar echoes other voices when he says that if a fresh ODP is prepared, then certain proposals by big companies that were rejected during drafting ODP 2026 will resurface again.
Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida claims that he knows functioning of MPDA better as he was earlier holding the post of MPDA chairman and hence the decision to scrap Vasco ODP will send a wrong message to the people.
“Scrapping of ODP’s other than Vasco is fine as some PDA’s might have not followed the procedures and hence being scrapped but Vasco has followed all procedures. I was the PDA chairman when ODP was drafted and finalized. We had got all government approvals and notification in this regard. Even in the last assembly session questions were asked by members and replies were given that Vasco ODP has followed all procedure. Unlike ODP of other areas we had prepared land use map and land use register and only then ODP was finalized by the government. Now I fail to understand the reason behind the decision to scrap Vasco ODP along with other ODP’s,” Almeida said.
He further added that “I think all the MLA’s from Mormugao Taluka should have been consulted first before taking any decision on scrapping ODP’s. I had discussion with Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha and even they are of the view once this ODP was prepared it is not proper to reopen it. Tomorrow some other government will come and even they will open up the ODP again. So every successive government will keep on opening up OPD again and again and this will send a wrong message to the people,” he opined
