the goan I network
MARGAO
The Outline Development Plan for Margao and Ponda, which was notified when the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) was controlled by Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai will be soon be opened up again for corrections and rectifications.
While the Town and Country Planning Act does not contain a proviso for review of the ODP after its notification, SGPDA chairman MLA Wilfred D’Sa said the PDA will open up the ODP again under Section 39 of
the Act.
After discussing the matter with the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Deputy Chief Minister, Chandrakant Kavlekar who also holds the TCP portfolio, the PDA chairman said the Margao and Ponda ODP will be kept open for making changes.
When it was pointed out that the PDA has no powers to review the ODP once notified by the government, D’Sa replied in the positive, but hastened to add that minor changes to the ODP can be effected by invoking Section 39 of the TCP Act.
“The matter for bringing the changes will be placed before the next meeting of the ODP before kick-starting the exercise under the TCP Act,” he said.
D’Sa said there’s been a host of complaints lodged by the citizens highlighting certain lapses in the ODP, adding that the PDA will try to rectify the same.
Officials in the know said Section 39 of the TCP Act provides for alteration of development plan and making of minor changes.
It states, “At any time after the date on which a Development plan for an area comes into operation, and at least once in every 10 years after that date, the Planning and Development Authority shall, after carrying out such fresh surveys, as may be considered necessary or directed by the Board and the Government, prepare after consultation with the local authorities concerned, if any, and submit to the Board and the government, a Development Plan for any alteration or additions considered necessary to the Development plan in operation”.
The section further states, “At any time after the date on which Development Plan for an area comes into operation, the Planning and Development Authority may, with the prior approval of the government, make such minor changes in such Development Plan as may be necessary for correcting any typographical or cartographical errors and omissions or details of proposals not fully indicated in the Plan or changes arising out of the implementation of the proposals in the Development Plan, provided that all such changes are in the public interest and are notified to
the public.”
