Team Herald
MARGAO: A meeting called by the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) on Wednesday will likely be a crucial one, as board members will be deliberating on some of the major issues; including the finalisation of Outline Development Plans (ODPs) for Margao and Ponda upon the directions of the government.
As per the information received, discussion on the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited’s (GSIDC) letter to hand over the entire wholesale fish market for earlier completion of the fish market project and deliberation on the proposed increase in sopo charges for the retail market are the few other important issues mentioned in the agenda.
It is pertinent to note that the government had issued directions to hold respective draft ODP and further directed to prepare the fresh ODPs in consultation with the expert, including Margao and Ponda.
The government has also directed that areas such as low-lying paddy fields, water bodies, khazan lands, flood-prone areas, the land having slopes more than 25 per cent forest land including private forest land, the land falling in the buffer zone of wildlife sanctuaries and tenanted agricultural lands shall not be considered for a change of zone during the preparation of the said ODPs, and hence the SGPDA members will have a tough time to decide on the issue. Shockingly, United Goans Foundations has already filed their objections to re-open the Margao and Ponda ODP.
The board members will also deliberate on another sensitive issue pertaining to the fishing community, as the GSIDC has asked the SGPDA to hand over the entire wholesale fish market area and asked to make an alternative arrangement for shifting of the current site.
The agenda of the meeting also stated that the GSIDC has requested to issue demolition orders for the canteen and toilet block at the market. But, the fishing community fear that handing over possession and shifting the market to some other location may result in the loss of their business.
The SGPDA will deliberate and finalise the already decided issue of increasing the sopo charges for proper maintenance of the retail market, as the vendors have strongly opposed the hike in sopo charges.
The demands of the South Goa Fishermen Federation of the wholesale fish market pertaining to the smooth functioning of the market will also be taken into consideration during the meeting.
