S Goa activists now back fresh and refurbished ODP

The activists, who had earlier opposed the ODP of Margao due to discrepancies have now urged the Government to step in and facilitate the process of the Margao ODP.

It may be recalled that UGF, a NGO, had approached the High Court and got the ODP process stayed. There were allegations that the process was faltered and was not in sync with the TCP rules. Allegations were also made that the ODP was only a painting job and not a proper planning for the town. Sanjiv Raiturkar, who was on the forefront of the group opposing the ODP, has said that the Government should file a undertaking in Court of following all the rules and formulating a new ODP as it is need of the hour. “If an undertaking is filed the Court may vacate the stay. But Vijai and Digamber have to follow the same demands which were made when they opposed the same,” Sanjiv pointed out.

“If the Government is playing politics I will intervene in the matter and pray that the ODP process begins under Court monitorings” Sanjiv added.

Jose Maria Miranda, who is a petitioner in the Lokayukta over the ODP issues, said “There is a stay order on the ODP. However, the main demand is to make the ODP a part of the Main Regional plan which they are not agreeing to. How can a regional plan be separate for town and village when they are interconnected?” asked Jose Maria.

“Roads should be broader, parking spaces rules need to be followed strictly. There are violations of all rules pertaining to parking in Margao town,” alleged Jose Maria Miranda.

The newly appointed SGPDA Chairman Renuka D’Silva, had in her first address to the media after the Authority meeting, spoken of protecting and rejuvenating the Heritage of the town. She said that there are several green belts in the Margao town, especially the Monte Hills, which are the oxygen re-generators of the town and said that they will be protected in the ODP.

All these aspirations though are awaiting much needed clearance of the Court which has the ODP stayed for now are required to be followed up and vacated to meet the long pending needs of the town.

The TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, meanwhile, said that the “The Margao ODP has been sent to the Government by PDA to scrap the old and re-do the ODP. They have cited a HC order where in they claimed that the Consultative Process of the ODP was not completed as per law. Now the Government needs to take a decision,” said TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai.

“We will mostly accept the demand of the PDA of re doing the ODP. The Government lawyers need to tell it to the courts,” said TCP Minister.