Long delays, ad hoc decisions, bypassing of draft and notified RPs, people’s protest and massive environmental destruction have been the hallmark of the almost two-decade long planning process. The government’s grandiose exercise for a suitable RP21 has been virtually in a ‘draft’ stage for almost 20 years, with Goa still relying on RP 2001 for its land use planning.
Moreover, in the name of planned development, more and more urban areas are taken out of RP and handed over to PDAs for drafting special outline development plan (ODPs), which are eating into more and more RP areas. Rampant conversions, developments are allowed in the name of planned development.
The step by step process of development starts with the Regional Plan which outlines the broad vision of planned development, followed by the ODP, which outlines the salient features or principles of a course action prior to the initiation of detailed planning. And that should be followed by a Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) which goes into micro planning of each land area and the specific development within that area. Hand on heart, has that happened?
“Multiplying of unconstitutional PDAs and notifying new ‘ODPs’ is the new method of by-passing the people which is basically disempowerment and land grab. They are prepared subverting the process of people’s participation and the notified RP21,” Goa Bachao Abhiyan convener Sabina Martins said.
The process to draw up RP with a long-term perspective was initiated in 1997-1998. A draft RP 2011 was notified in August 2006. This plan sparked off extensive protests led by Goa Bachao Abhiyan- which managed to get it scrapped in 2007. This resulted in notification of RP 2021 by November 2011- which too was mired in controversy.
Now the government has proposed a new RP 2030. However, the biggest challenge before the government is to retain the green land – the eco-sensitive areas, while curtailing the settlement zones.
“Right now we have the 2001 document which is being relied upon as a reference frame and we have a 2021 document which is being kept on hold. Both are not compatible situations. We offer our cooperation, if sought, to the government, to bring out a logical and reasonably fool proof document,” she said.
While RP is yet to be finalized for the State, the ODPs are something that has raised the eyebrows of the activists. ODPs were never meant to be stand alone plans of Planning and Development Authorities, which came up as urban planning authorities out of the domain of the Regional Plan.
“Regional plan, the way in which it is implemented on ground is heavily influenced by commercial considerations and interests of builder mafia, having nothing people friendly in it. No consideration is given to the requirements of the middle class Goans, environmental concerns, heritage assets and our lifestyle,” the NGO musical warriors stated.
The entire planning template from the 2001 plan onwards has been reversed. Instead of projects being conceived to fit into proper ground level planning, the so called ground level planning is being altered and doctored to suit projects that are coming in, at the cost of agricultural and natural cover.
The rich heritage of the State is also facing the threat with growing unplanned development. “The Reis Magos heritage hill is the perfect example. We are trading with our heritage,” Goa Heritage Action Group member Prajal Sakhardande said.
A dedicated Heritage conservation policy is the need of the hour to grant required protection to these structures. State has as many as 431 sites, houses, buildings and monuments of social, archaeological and architectural importance.
