TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.coM
MARGAO:The South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) has rejected a file seeking permission for development of a housing project proposed in a huge land considered a water body at Gogol.
This is the second time in the last six months that the file did not find favour with the planning and development authority headed by Chairman MLA Rajan Naik.
Sources in the know said the developer had approached the Town and Country Planning Board with an appeal after the SGPDA rejected the file on grounds of objections raised in many quarters that the housing project is proposed in a water body.
The Town and Country Planning board then referred the file back to the SGPDA to take a fresh call on the proposal, which incidentally did not find favour with the PDA.
It is learnt that when the file came up for discussion, Fatorda legislator Vijai Sardesai lodged his strong objection saying that he is opposed to the project coming up a huge abandoned stone quarry.
He recalled that Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar had himself assured him on the floor of the legislative assembly that the government would not approve the project in a water body.
Besides, he demanded to know how the PDA can approve the file when local residents have lodged their objections on grounds that the water body is used for immersion of Ganesh idols.
When contacted, PDA officials said the file would be referred back to the Town and Country Planning Board with a remark that the SGPDA has rejected the proposal.
