Team Herald
PANJIM: Town and Country Planning Department has moved the state government to decide the fate of the Regional Plan with the Laxmikant Parsekar-led coalition failing to meet deadlines for finalizing it.
“We have moved the file to the government seeking its opinion whether to scrap RP or continue with suggestions/objections or to superimpose the two plans (2002 and 2012),” Deputy Chief Minister Minister Francis D’Souza said on the sidelines of the function to inaugurate the renovated TCP office on Friday.
He said the ‘big decision’ will be taken in the cabinet following which the work on the plan will commence.
D’Souza, who holds the TCP portfolio, added that the process of drafting the outline development plan for the urban areas is underway whilst the RP is still incomplete. “ODPs are independent of the RP finalization. They are not linked with each other,” he clarified.
The minister slammed the Mapusa farmer association Shri Bodgeshwer Shetkari Sangh’s argument that government did not take them into consideration while drafting the Mapusa ODP. They also alleged they were often sidelined on development activities too.
On Thursday, the Sangh – demanding to save the green cover – had threatened to protest outside the Goa legislative assembly if their suggestions were not considered by August 8.
“They want to be seen on TV and newspapers. We have kept the ODP open for public suggestions and objections. They should file their say. It will certainly be taken into consideration,” D’Souza said.
