Planning twists and turns
When elected officials indulge in arbitrary and illegal activities which create consternation in the minds of the public, it is time to call them to heel. The recent announcement that the Outline Development Plan for Panaji is now “open” for public scrutiny and suggestions is one such action. The very first illegality about this announcement is the fact that any ODP is a second stage in the process of planning. First of all there has to be a “Present Land Use Plan.” The ODP can be prepared only after the Present Land Use Plan has been approved and duly “notified” as per the Goa Daman and Diu Town and Country Planning Act of 1974. Clearly, the Town and Country Planning Department of North Goa is putting the cart before the horse: making plans for future use without knowing clearly what the present use of land is.
The Planning and Development Authority has no executive authority whatsoever. It is simply and purely a planning body. The Chairman of the NGPDA has no legal status to declare an ODP open for public scrutiny. This is reserved, according to the TCP Act of the government, which has to issue a public notification to this effect. The citizens of Panjim would also like to know why, if the politicians and bureaucrats can “correct” and reformulate a Plan, so much public money was spent in appointing a highly-level “Task Force” to do this work?
Averthanus L. D’Souza, Dona Paula
Too many malls
What is the use of getting another mall in Povorim? Already, the existing new mall has created so much chaos with regards to traffic and parking. This is not Mumbai where malls pop up every kilometre and there is a large group of shoppers who have disposable incomes. In Goa, we already have so many shops in the two malls. Now you can buy 10 different brands of men’s shirts at the two malls. Now we are going to get more brands? For what? The tailors will be out of a job. This is a misuse of real estate and just a gimmick to attract brands here and charge them high rents. As it is the charges for shirts and pants in Goa are so expensive now, it is not affordable for the common man. Will the government introduce another schedule for better salaries? Maybe then we can wear better clothes to office.
Claudio Pereira, Porvorim
Whose fault?
The constant controversy over the private vs beach shacks looks like there is a hidden agenda t at play. If the carrying capacity has not been studied, it is indeed the tourism department’s fault, but why punish the shacks who are depending on the business for their livelihood. In this matter the different category of shack owners must join together to fight for their rights. There are constantly fights between different groups in Goa. This is common and has been going on for a long time. Goans must stop this crab mentality.
Arvind Raikar, Margao
