Kadamba ODP created by builders’ lobby, pushed through by govt, SOGAC alleges

Team Herald

PANJIM: The Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) has slammed the Greater Panaji Planning and Development (GPPDA) for its unscientific approach in making the Kadamba Outline Development Plan (ODP), which they are opposing.

SOGAC stated that they outrightly reject this ODP, which they allege has been created by the builders’ lobby and pushed through by the Government of Goa.

 “This action of the Kadamba ODP has clearly illustrated the true agenda of the State Government, not to go for demarcation of the heritage sites (which they are required to do by law) but instead to sell even more of Old Goa to the builders lobby,” said SOGAC members..

Amongst their main contentions with the PDA is the fact that the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister had given an assurance that the department will withdraw the Kadamba ODP and yet the same had been released for objections/suggestions from the public.

“This Kadamba ODP is unconstitutional as it goes against the will of the panchayat and the 73rd constitutional amendment. Because the ODP includes part of village panchayats, Chimbel, Bambolim and Old Goa. We know all three have taken gram sabha resolutions to remove their villages from PDA on the following dates,” said SOGAC.  

“This ODP which should have further detailed the Regional Plan (RP) has actually left out important environmental land uses like no-development slopes, buffer zone around the fortress wall & buffer around the garbage plant. Thus it is less detailed than even the 2011 plan prepared under the Regional Plan,” SOGAC added.

They cited the example of how the ODP had converted one huge plot of land, which was earlier an eco-sensitive zone in the RP into a settlement zone to allegedly facilitate the development lobby.

“This debacle of planning will only invite more legal action from activists as the government and the TCP have now clearly decided that they do not want to do their job,” SOGAC added.  

They have prepared a detailed memorandum in this regard with their objections, which they will submit to the GPPDA on Thursday.