Team Herald
MARGAO: Margao Councillors and officials of South Goa Planning and Development Authority held a joint meeting to discuss the proposals for the change of zones and alteration of roads, which would be incorporated in the draft Outline Development Plan 2026. The meeting was chaired by the MMC chairperson Babita Angle and SGPDA Member Secretary Ashok Kumar.
The councillors reviewed the 24 suggestions made by the previous Council in 2016 during the preparation of the previous draft. Some suggestions were obsolete and were therefore dropped. There were come controversial suggestions, which were discussed at the meeting.
The councillors objected to marking of municipal land opposite the Sonsoddo garbage dump as a kabrasthan in the ODP. While some stated that the kabrasthan won’t be coming up at the site and therefore should not be shown. Others claimed that since the site was acquired for the kabrasthan, it has to be shown. Following an intense debate, it was decided to show the site as municipal land in the ODP
The councillors resolved to propose that the PWD service road near dog shelter in Sonsoddo should be shown in ODP as a public road. Interestingly, the PWD claimed it was a private road; however, SGPDA officials informed that they have already issued permission based on that road.
Objecting to the slaughter house in housing board, councillors Dorris Texeira and Arthur D’Silva said that it is already congested. Arthur informed that in Ward No 22, an existing three-metre road behind St Joseph School is proposed as 10-metre road. “There are buildings and many houses along the road. Even a retired principal, whose son is a judge, has a house on that road that will have to be demolished if the road is widened”, he said.
Glen Andrade, whose ward falls in the heritage zone, informed that constructions on Monte Hill conservation zone do not adhere to heritage parameters. “They are boxes with no heritage architecture”, he claimed.
MMC chairperson directed the councillors to submit their proposals to the municipal engineer by November 30 after which they will be compiled and sent to the SGPDA in official format.
Addressing to media persons, Ashok Kumar informed that the meeting was conducted as per the TCP Act which states that the ODP has to be prepared in consultation with the councillors.
When asked whether the public will be invited to apply for zone changes, the member secretary said the public will be invited for suggestions and objections only after the draft ODP is prepared.
“At this stage we won’t call public. After preparing the draft we will keep it open for 60 days”, he said.
When asked as to when people can apply for zone changes, he said the SGPDA has received applications for zone changes. MMC chairperson said the councillors will meet the ward residents for suggestions.
With regards to the controversial Costa Ground in Aquem, the member secretary informed that the land is private land and zone is currently commercial.
A councillor informed that he has demanded that the land be marked as open space. However, neither the member secretary nor chairperson was willing to categorically state that the Costa Ground will be shown as open space.
