PANJIM/ MARGAO: Raising serious doubts over government’s intention to split the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) into three, well-known architect and member of the former task force on Regional Plan 2021 Dean D’Cruz has said that the move is basically to bypass the RP – the land use plan. But D’ Cruz is perhaps merely articulating a growing apprehension that the move to split the North Goa Planning body and include more villages in planning areas will subvert the planning process
Activists as well as political opponents have raised eyebrows over the proposed move to have three more PDAs – Coastal PDA, Panjim PDA and Greater Panjim PDA consisting of Taleigao, Bambolim and Old Goa. They alleged that the decision is basically to favour building lobbies in the name of development.
Speaking to Herald, D’Cruz said that the move is to give way for drafting of multiple outline development plans (ODPs) by granting increase in FAR, contrary to norms for holistic and participatory planning and environment and heritage conservation.
“This is nothing but an attempt to subvert the concept of Regional Plan. The formation of more PDAs will lead to more ODPs which will bypass regional plan. Then there is no point in having Regional plan for 2030 or 2050,” he said.
Minister for Town and Country Planning (TCP) Vijay Sardesai has ruled out the apprehension that formation of additional PDAs will make RP redundant, claiming that despite RP in force, the unplanned development is mushrooming.
Social activist Swati Kerkar questioned government motive behind having greater Panjim PDA or coastal PDA, when there is no planned development taking place in the existing PDAs.
“Where is the planned development in Panjim or the areas covered under North or South Goa PDAs? The so called idea of having additional PDAs is for further destruction of environment and heritage. This is nothing but favouritism to builders,” she charged.
“The only idea behind these PDAs is money and corruption,” Kerkar quipped.
The State currently has three PDAs in force- North Goa Planning and Development Authority, South Goa Planning and Development Authority and Mormugao Planning and Development Authority- which is yet to be reconstituted.
Activists from South Goa have also raised their concern.
“The bifurcation of the PDAs is completely unconstitutional and in contravention of the Town and Country Planning rules. It is solely being done with a purpose to defeat the Regional Plan. This is to encourage the real estate at the cost of Goan economy and environment. Completely against the interest of Goa and the law,” said Abhijit Prabhudesai.
Activist Zarina D’Cunha stated that it is a mockery of the system and set rules of the State. “Professional inputs on the plan rfeceived is getting scrapped as the greed factor takes over?” she said.
The opposition Congress party has too questioned the government’s intention behind bifurcation of the existing PDAs. “When I was chairman of NGPDA, the present Chief Minister had accused me of corruption stating that the authority is a money-making machine. I would now like to know why the State needs so many PDAs,” CLP leader Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco questioned.
“Are these additional PDAs to generate funds for forthcoming Lok Sabha election and then for general assembly elections? Lourenco asked.
Clearly, this is a move which will face questions and the TCP minister must be prepared to take stakeholders into confidence.
