PANJIM: The State government
is seriously considering including Sancoale village in the Vasco de Gama planning
area, a move which was strongly opposed by Cortalim MLA and Minister Alina
Saldanha in 2013.
Following a gram sabha
resolution for inclusion of Sancoale into the planning and development area
(PDA), the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department has moved the file to
Deputy Chief Minister and TCP Minister Francis D’Souza for a final decision.
“Government has received the
proposal and it is under consideration,” highly placed sources said confirming
that the village will be included in the PDA.
The government
in 2013 had declared the Vasco da Gama planning area, comprising, among other
villages, Sancoale and Issorcim, areas under the operation of the Goa, Daman
and Diu Town and Country Planning Act, 1974. However, following strong
opposition from some villagers and Saldanha, the villages were later withdrawn
from the purview of PDAs.
Sources said the move,
backed by Vasco MLA and chairman of Mormugao Planning and Development
Authority (MPDA) Carlos Almeida, is basically following increasing
demand from real estate developers to develop the village. “If it comes under
Regional Plan 2021, then builders will have to fix to Floor Area Ratio of 100
percent. It won’t be increased,” sources said.
As reported earlier by Herald,
for MPDA, Sancoale is the biggest revenue earning village and since the time
the village was withdrawn from the Vasco da Gama planning area, MPDA has been
facing a tough time even in releasing staff salaries.
