Master plan or Master waste? Another master plan for Margao when the Rs 48 lakh plan of 2009 is still in the air

MARGAO: Margao has had master plans for the overhaul of the city. But the masters of these master plans can’t quite tell their people why the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) of Margao, ticketed at Rs 48 lakh hasn’t materialised, yet another agency the GSUDA  has now proposed another master plan, 2041 for the commercial capital of Goa.

People of Margao surely don’t see this as a master stroke of planning by any stretch of imagination.

People of Margao are questioning the Margao Municipal Council about a similar scheme called ‘Comprehensive Development Plan’ prepared in 2009-10 which cost the Council Rs 48 lakh, but it never saw the light of the day.

Admitting that this commercial town is in dire need of the master plan, the people of Margao have also cautioned the authorities that public money should not be wasted like CDP which never saw the light of the day.

At the same time, Margao residents feel that the implementation of such a plan will put a full stop to all the issues and problems that mushroomed in the last few decades about the development of the Margao.

The ruling council of Margao Municipality had then requested the agency to rectify the loopholes noticed by the citizens. However, till date no signs of the CDP in operation.

And now, GSUDA is again in the process of preparing a new Master Plan 2041.

It is pertinent to note that recently GSUDA had invited tenders for selecting a consultant to prepare master plans 2041 for Margao along with Ponda and Valpoi to guide future growth and development of these towns. 

As per the tender notice issued by the GSUDA it has been mentioned that the successful bidder will have to complete the entire exercise within six months. A drone-based topographic survey, data collection, and existing condition analysis, and consultations with stakeholders will take place. 

However, residents of Margao suspect that it should not be another namesake exercise and waste of public money in preparing the plan.

Speaking to Herald on the issue then Chairperson of Margao Municipality, Savio Coutinho, under whose tenure GSUDA had prepared the CDP, said that ‘whether this same plan is proposed to make a fresh entry through the new dispensation, compromising the same old players will have to be seen.’

“The GSUDA, earlier in 2009-10 had prepared a Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for Margao, by spending a whopping amount of Rs 48 lakh. This plan was sent to the Council for approval. However, the said plan had a lot of objectionable issues in it. When the same was placed for public viewing, there were lots of objections from the people whose land was proposed to be marked for different purposes,” Coutinho told HERALD. 

According to Coutinho, the GSUDA neither corrected the mistakes pointed out by the citizens nor returned the CDP to be implemented.

He further said that the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR), was first brought out through this CDP. Private land opposite the Matanhy Saldanha Complex was proposed to be created as a TDR zone, clearly suggesting the vested interests in preparing the CDP.

Councillor Ghanashyam Shirodkar said that Margao town is badly in need of a master plan. 

“SGUDA should have brought back the plan prepared in 2009-10 with changes as suggested by the people. Now, the concerned authorities should give serious thought to the preparation of the master plan again. Let everybody know what is in the plan and what are the opportunities for the better Margao”, councillor Shirodkar said.

“This master plan will be a fresh one and it will be prepared within the coming six months,” said Gurudas Pilarnekar, Member Secretary GSUDA, when contacted by HERALD.

He also said that “he is not aware of the previous plan prepared in 2009-10.’

“It has been brought to my notice that CDP of Margao was not completed and hence there is no question pertaining to adopting the same. We are preparing a totally new master plan wherein the ideas are intended to develop, identify strategies, programmes after analysing the existing situation, land use plans, social infrastructure, open spaces, public utility, etc,” said Pilarnekar.