MARGAO
In a significant development on the planning front, Carmona village has perhaps become the first village in Goa to adopt its zoning plan under the Regional Plan 2021 for the purpose of spatial planning.
While this decision is termed as a crucial step under the Panchayat Raj Act, which empowers villages to engage in spatial planning as part of the Village Development Plan and, ultimately, the District Development Plan, the move may set the stage for a legal battle with the government on planning.
For, the village may no longer accept the notifications on zone changes made by the Town and Country Planning department since the village has adopted its zone plan under the RP 21 for the purpose of spatial planning.
The action by the village Panchayat headed by Sarpanch Sandra Fernandes comes in response to concerns that the Town and Country Planning Department (TCP) has been arbitrarily changing the zones of individual plots, which hampers the village's planned development. A major issue is the designation of all agricultural land as a "No Development Area" (NDA). This classification lacks a clear definition and effectively removes protections for low-lying paddy fields.
Avinash Tavares, who was roped in by the Carmona panchayat to prepare the zone plan as per RP 21 said, the panchayat currently lacks adequate land to set up public service infrastructure such a a proper Material Recovery Facility (MRF), as the existing site is located on playground property. “The Panchayat does not have the funds to acquire private land leaving only Comunidade agriculture land as the sole option. However, due to the NDA classification, there will be a ban on using these lands for public purposes. This village was not consulted regarding these zone changes or any zone change needed in public interest for setting up public infrastructure”, he said.
With this resolution, Tavares said Carmona village has initiated steps towards proper land management and planned and sustainable development , for identifying land for essential public service facilities and to ensure a planned approach to future construction that respects the area's carrying capacity.
Carmona sarpanch says
panchayat will take
government head on
Carmona Sarpanch Sandra Fernandes said the decision to adopt spatial planning is the inherent right of the panchayat under the Indian constitution. “Spatial planning power is bestowed on the panchayat bodies under the Constitution. Carmona panchayat has become the first panchayat to adopt zone plan as per the RP for the purpose of spatial planning”, she said.
To a question whether the panchayat’s decision will find favour with the government which is in the process of issuing notifications on zone changes, the Sarpanch shot back,“The panchayat would submit its decision to the Town and Country Planning department informing the TCP of its decision to adopt zone plan as per the RP for the purpose of spatial planning. If the TCP does not take cognisance of the panchayat decision, we will be left with no option than to take legal recourse after obtaining legal opinion”,
