Team Herald
MARGAO: The inspections with regard to re-drafted Outline Development Plans (ODPs) of Margao and Ponda will be held on September 15 and 16 respectively to finalise the plan.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has raised doubts on the re-drafting of the ODP which was already finalised in 2018.
SGPDA chairman Wilfred D’Sa said the re-drafted ODPs of Margao and Ponda will be kept open for the suggestions and objections for public, most probably from October.
He said ODPs of Margao and Ponda have been re-drafted as per govt directions and SGPDA will finalise it very soon.
“There were suggestions and objections from the public to the ODP which was finalised in 2018. The govt had asked SGPDA to re-draft the plan by including the suggestions and objections”, he said.
Wilfred said they have prepared the re-draft by making changes.
“There were nearly 65 objections with regard to the roads mentioned in the plans of Margao and Ponda. We inspected the areas and changes have been made. Before sending this plan to the government it has been decided to personally inspect the areas in the presence of concerned MLAs”, he said.
He said inspections of Margao and Fatorda will be on September 15, and in Ponda on September 16.
“The concerned MLAs will remain present for the inspections, as SGPDA officials have already carried out the inspection”, he said.
“The MLAs have insisted on inspecting a few areas. We have asked for suggestions from Margao, and Ponda municipalities, and they have submitted the same”, he stated.
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat said ODP was prepared in 2018 and the horizon period was 2028. “Now, the govt has asked the SGPDA to prepare the plan again. However, I don’t understand the need of re-drafting the ODP which was already finalised in 2018”, he said.
Digambar said consultation with the concerned municipalities is a must with regard to the finalisation of ODP.
“We have clearly stated that there should be no change in zones while re-drafting the plans, as minor corrections can be allowed. Minor changes can be rectified”, he said.
