PANJIM: While claiming the Outline Development Plan (ODP) prepared earlier had followed a particular criteria that cannot be used today, social activists on Friday have strongly objected to Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vijai Sardesai’s statement that the current notified ODP’s would be used as a baseline for redrafting the ODP’s.
The TCP board while adjourning the meeting to September 3 had resolved to issue directives to North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) prepare new ODP’s for Panjim, Mapusa while Mormugao PDA had been asked to prepare a new plan for Vasco.
“Present ODP plan of Panaji cannot be understood because it is blurred. That plan has to be first de-notified and a fresh one should be prepared without keeping the current plan as the baseline as it will complicate matters further. Also the ODP that were prepared earlier had followed criteria that cannot be used today.” said Activist Arturo D’souza
He said, “The Panaji ODP is blurred and cannot be scaled or deciphered and how can he even use that plan? Secondly he feels the TCP Board has legislative powers which is not it can only recommend to the Government. The TCP Minister is out to destroy Goa by messing up the previous notifications which will further complicate matters.”
D’souza further revealed that in 2014 the Central Ministry had welcomed and accepted the “Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation Guidelines” presented by M/s Mott McDonald who were appointed as consultants by the Central Ministry. The consultants clearly said that planning should be “inclusive with people’s participation with regard to specific issues.
Another activist Siddharth Karapurkar said that everything should be done with people consent while stating that the 73rd and 74th amendments should be implemented before going ahead with the changes.
TCP Minister had given an assurance in the House that a uniform procedure will be followed for drafting of ODPs.
Uniform procedure means a land use plan should be in place, then a land use register, draft ODP and then final ODP. This procedure was followed by south Goa PDA, but the other PDAs followed a different procedure. The current notified ODPs will be the base line to redraft the ODPs and should be followed for the interim period.” Sardesai said speaking to reporters after the TCP board meeting
Meanwhile, another activist Rama Kankonkar said that the TCP department is just fooling the people.
“The TCP department is fooling the people of Goa, just by implementing new policies they are trying to deviate from the main issues.” Kankonkar said.
