The RP was one of the planks on which this government came to power. Now it appears as if it will continue to be a plank till the next election which is two and a half years away at the very latest.
A Regional Plan is normally a blueprint for development in the State. However, though officially development has been allowed under certain conditions by the government, there have been allegations that the authorities are using loopholes from both the plans to push through development instead of allowing development based on the strengths of both the plans.
Manohar Parrikar in the run up to the elections had promised that the RP 2021 would be scrapped and a revamped plan would be prepared within six months of his government coming to power.
When the BJP stormed to power, Parrikar had said that the RP 2021 would be de-notified.
The Chief Minister had also promised on the floor of the Assembly on July 19, 2012, that from August 15-September 15, 2012 the plan would be kept open for general suggestions and everyone would be given an opportunity of putting their views across.
He had also asked all not ‘to panic’ as in six months a full and final plan would be ready.
Then in June 2013, Parrikar promised that the government would re-open the plan for deliberations in July and that panchayats and local self-governing bodies would be given an opportunity to decide on the development model for their villages, but only to a limited extent.
Now fast forward to September 2014. Till now the government in a notification issued on June 4, made the RP 2021 a reference plan with developments and constructions to be allowed subject to land use conforming to both – RP 2001 as well as RP 2021 – and at the same time holding the notified plan in abeyance and promising to make the corrections as demanded by the people. At the same time the government has even passed a notification by which development is being allowed including extra FAR for four and five starred hotels.
Lots of promises but no action on the ground and till date stakeholders or panchayats have not been consulted, despite assurances of transparency. In short, the tortuous wait for the Regional Plan continues.
CM’s statement on RP on June 15, 2013
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said that before the Regional Plan is kept open for reactions from the people, he would be come out with clear guidelines on the RP as well as expressed the desire that the plan would be closed within 60 days. Basically, the chief minister was clear that he was looking at a plebiscite model rather than Gram Sabhas deciding on the plan.
“I am making it clear, I will give powers to all voters of the panchayat,” he said stressing, “Whatever model is selected by village panchayat, it will be selected… and voting will be by villagers.”
However, calling these his ideas he had said “as of now they are my ideas; and they are not my decisions,” Parrikar said, “Whatever may be the RP, we will superimpose the panchayat plan on it,” adding, “This will go as per the (Town and Country Planning) Act…I am trying to make it legal, and once it is done, then within 15 days we will throw it open.”
The chief minister said that he wanted to settle it before the next assembly session and that he would consult MLAs, stakeholders and NGOs like the Goa Bachao Abhiyan. He said that the villagers were free to restrict what they wanted (as far as development of the village was concerned) but once the plebiscite was done then you cannot change it midway.”
