Few months ago the SGPDA kept open the Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Margao for public viewing, objections and suggestions. The SGPDA member secretary has informed that they have received over 500 objections and suggestions from public, which would be scrutinised by a sub-committee.
“We were called today for discussion/ hearing by the SGPDA sub-committee, accordingly Adv Rajeev Gomes, Sanjeev Raiturkar, Laurel Abranches, Andrew Sequeira and citizens of Margao and Fatorda jointly attended the hearing. Various issues regarding the purposed Margao ODP were discussed threadbare,” said Laurel Abranches.
Shifting of petrol pumps from within the Margao city to the outskirts was taken up by Sanjeev Raiturkar questioning the authorities on where is the land they have marked for shifting these pumps.
Laurel Abranches complained that sub-committee members were not experts in the field of urban planning. “This entire exercise appears to be an attempt to fool the public,” he said.
“If the SGPDA is really working in the interest of proper planned development of Margao and Fatorda, then it should scrap the hearing by the sub-committee and appoint experts to look into the objections and suggestions,” he said.
Sanjeev Raiturkar said that after the sub-committee finishes its public hearing, the ODP should be redrafted and be kept for public viewing for another 60 days, so that the public would get a opportunity to check if their objections are really looked into by the SGPDA and changes are made accordingly.
“We all will keep our hawk eye open on this entire ODP planning process till it is properly solved in right earnest development of our city,” he said.
