PANJM: Goa government has extended the deadline to receive suggestions and objections on the Regional Plan 2021 till January 18, 2016 following demands from cross sections of the society claiming 30 days period was not sufficient for the purpose.
Town and Country Planning Minister Francis D’Sozua said the file extending the deadline has been approved with a notification expected by Wednesday. “I have approved the file for extension in the deadline. The further process is underway,” he informed Herald.
The TCP has till date received as many as 1,600 suggestions, objections and comments from the general public, institutions and NGOs among others. “Most of the applications highlight minor issues like 100 sq mtrs not included in the settlement area, etc. Some institutions have sought to increase FAR while some others mentioned about conversions,” he said quoting a few applications.
Sources however claim the department has received 2,300-odd number of applications.
Chief Town Planner Dr S T Puttaraju said the TCP received 500 applications on Tuesday alone. “The decision to extend the deadline was taken after huge response from the people and stakeholders,” he told Herald.
A State Level scrutiny Committee is already formed to scrutinise the applications and give recommendations accordingly.
As the government began the process to finalize the controversial RP21, the land plans of all the 12 talukas were kept open for fresh public comments and rectification for a period of 30 days starting from December 1. This however restricted those individuals from submitting their suggestions and objections, who had participated in the process when the plan was first kept open for rectification in November-December 2011. The government intends to notify the final plan by April 1, 2016.
