Team Herald
PANJIM: Villagers of Siridao, Azossim-Mandur, Batim-Gancim gained a major victory on Wednesday when the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department’s sub-committee resolved to omit these areas from the jurisdiction of the Greater Panjim Planning and Development Authority (GPPDA). However, the final decision vests with the TCP Board that will be meeting on April 10.
The four-member committee headed by TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, constituted to go into the merits of representations of village panchayats, held its first meeting on Wednesday wherein it heard grievances raised by the three panchayats. St Andre MLA Francis Silveria, along with the respective sarpanchas and panch members, was present for the meeting.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sardesai said the sub-committee has concluded that Siridao was never included in GPPDA, while Azossim-Mandur and Batim-Gancim should be omitted from the planning and development area. “Our resolution will be placed before the TCP Board for a final decision,” he said.
However, Sardesai clarified that the department is firm on promoting vertical development, which is the need of the hour.
He said that the demand of the Siridao panchayat is that their village should be denotified as PDA. “However, what is interesting is that the village of Siridao was never included in the PDA,” he said.
“There was unfounded fear. The fear was not based on fact. Siridao was never in the PDA. Then, they made the observation that in future Siridao should not be put in PDA. We cannot talk of future as we talk about as of today,” he said questioning, if only PDAs allow migrants and slums.
As far as Azossim-Mandur is concerned, Sardesai said that the sarpanch Ajit Bakal made a detailed presentation, which was based on certain facts. “Their representation was valid. And we are in agreement with them. We have reached a decision not to include their village in GPPDA, however, it would be subject to the board’s decision. The committee was of the opinion that we could omit it from GPPDA,” he said.
Also in the case of Batim-Gancim, a proper
representation was given by sarpanch Francis D’Souza, who raised certain facts, which were agreed to, the Minister said. “Both Azossim-Mandur and Batim-Gancim share similar topography and demography. The areas proposed under PDA are far from habitation and hence, we felt that there was no such need and can be omitted,” he said.
Stating that the department has received ten representations from various panchayats, Sardesai said that the decision on the seven other villages will be taken during the second and third meetings of the sub-committee. “There is unnecessary fear of PDA. PDAs are just part of planning process. It is for planned development. There is unwarranted fear,” he said.
The Minister urged the villagers to ensure and see that the villages are developed in planned manner while laying emphasis on vertical growth.
Later, sub-committee member Congress MLA Felip Neri Rodrigues and local Congress MLA Francis Silveria thanked the Minister for respecting people’s sentiments and considering to omit the villages from the PDA.
“I would request Minister to consider on similar lines the Curca-Bambolim panchayat demand for de-notifying it,” Silveria said.
Other members of the committee include Chief Town Planner (CTP) Rajesh Naik and North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) member secretary RK Pandita.
