PANAJI
The policy as elaborated in the RPG-2021 allows for ‘proposals’ in which the minimum plot area is 2-lakh square metres (50-acres), in which FAR will be granted of 10% subject to a maximum of 40,000 square metres with only a ground plus one ‘green buildings’ allowed in the area with a sloping roof, with a bar on subdivision of plots.
The policy states that the SLC accepted the proposals only in rural talukas “to provide an economic impetus to less developed talukas to prevent current intra-state migration trends to talukas like Bardez, Tiswadi and Salcete.”
“The SLC has accepted proposals based on requirement and merit. The recommended development has been done so in infrastructurally and economically backward areas with a view to it being an economic driver in the region generate employment and reverse intra state migration,” the policy reads.
Town and Country Department officials have backed the policy saying that the move would clearly bring development to hitherto underdeveloped parts of the State as well as would not be environmentally threatening as it would restrict development to just 10% of the total plot area, thus preserving the remaining 90%.
With a bar on commercial housing or real estate housing within these areas, the ‘proposals’ were meant to ensure that the projects are sources of employment and drivers of economic growth in the region.
However, the activists disagree and smell a scam in the reasons behind the drafting of the policy.
“The SLC report clearly mentioned that the government was to draft a proper policy for these eco-tourism zones. Instead the government went ahead based on the SLC recommendations and no policy has been finalised,” Dean D’Cruz member of the now disbanded SLC which finalised the Regional Plan 2021 said.
“A policy was to be set to establish scale of development but the government jumped the gun and started getting sanads without any guidelines in place,” he added.
“The arguments that they will bring economic growth and offer jobs are only Continued from P1
excuses. The real reason why they have been included is because there was huge political pressure to ensure that these go through. The argument was offered that the government would collapse if they weren’t allowed,” D’Cruz told The Goan.
Activists have been opposing the ‘ecotourism zones’ on grounds that they will be environmentally damaging citing the Tiracol golf project, the Vanxim project as well as the ecotourism zones planned in Canacona to buttress their point.
There is another worry. “With the TCP department keeping the Regional Plan open for suggestions and objections, the fear is very real that, citing suggestions it has received to reduce the minimum area (2-lakh square metres) required for one to be eligible for an ecotourism project,” the official said. “We would be jumping from the frying pan into the fire,” he added.
