TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Despite being unclear on the finalization of the Regional Plan 2021, the state has begun the process of correcting the outline development plans (ODPs) of Panjim, Taleigao and Mapusa. The procedure aims at rectifying settlement zones and agricultural fields, currently marked as orchard and settlement zones in the ODPs, to their original land use.
The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department in a notification issued to the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) has directed the latter to keep the ODPs open for public review to carry out the necessary changes and rectifications. The directions have been issued under Section 132 of the TCP Act 1974.
The government has decided to issue guidelines to effect minor changes/ rectifications so that the provisions are used judiciously and to consider only genuine corrections in larger public interest. The government had, in 2012, made some minor changes to the three ODPs.
Chief Town Planner Dr S Putturaju said the ODPs have to be reviewed every five years by making necessary rectifications as per public suggestions and recommendations. These ODPs were drafted in 2006 and are pending review.
The changes or rectifications of the provisions of ODPs will be taken up on the basis of any court judgment with specific directions; other court directions, including quasi-judicial matters (mamlatdar), or personal complaints, such as cases under Mundkar (Protection from Eviction) Act, 1975, Agricultural Tenancy Act, Land Use Regulations Act, 1991 etc. Minor alterations or changes in alignment of the road ‘where conditions warrant such changes and deletion of roads on special circumstances when construction of such roads is not practically feasible could be taken up on public interest’.
NGPDA Chairman Michael Lobo said the ODPs will be kept open for one month for public suggestions, recommendations and objections.
“There are over 500 complaints pending before NGPDA, wherein it has been pointed out that several agricultural plots are marked as settlement zone, while in many cases settlement zones are marked as orchard land. We will have to rectify all this. If no activities are undertaken, we will revert the agricultural land back to its original identity,” Lobo said.
A similar exercise is on the anvil for south Goa ODPs thereby bringing 40 per cent of the population in the ambit of land plan rectifications.
