RP for 9 talukas by mid-2011: Cong
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, NOV 26
The Congress party today said that the Regional Plan (RP) for the rest of nine talukas will be ready by mid-2011.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Subhash Shirodkar said that the RP in the rest of talukas would be notified by mid-2011.
“The decision to declare Regional Plan for two talukas – Canacona and Pernem was a great step by the government. The rest talukas will be also considered on priority basis. By mid-2011 all the talukas will be covered,” Shirodkar told media persons today evening.
Hailing the government’s decision, Shirodkar said that there is complete transparency in the plan.
The RP 2021 protects all the eco-sensitive areas while suggesting the developmental pattern for the State.
Shirodkar said that the RP would put to rest all the suspicion surrounding the land use pattern in the State.
“With the new RP, nearly 70 percent of the landmass in the State would be protected from the developmental activities. The hills, forest areas, agricultural lands, mangroves and other eco-sensitive areas are now on safer side,” the Congress chief said.
When asked, Shirodkar said that National Highway expansion, in line with the current highway is must for Goa. “Every year nearly 200 people die in road accidents while 1000-2000 people get injured. To avoid this, highway expansion is the only option,” he said.
Shirodkar pointed out that of the total 150 kms long stretch only 15 kilometres would be affected with the widening.
“The government will need to check whether we can reduce the number of houses from demolition. The government will rehabilitate the displaced houses and pay them as per market rates,” he said.
The NH expansion in the State has also met with an opposition by locals,
who has said that the alignment can be altered to save the houses from being demolished. The agitators feel that alignment should be done as mentioned in the draft RP 2021.
