(CITIZENS.jpeg) Citizens were denied access to the venue of a closed-door presentation on the draft Master Plan 2041 for Margao on Wednesday evening.
MARGAO
As the consultant appointed by Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) gave a presentation on the draft Master Plan 2041 for Margao to a select group of citizens on “invitation” on Wednesday evening, other citizens and professionals demanded the plan be placed in the public domain to ensure greater public participation and transparency before it gets a green signal for implementation.
When a group of professionals and citizens reached a city-based hotel upon being informed of a presentation on the Master Plan for Margao on Wednesday evening, they were denied entry into the hotel on the plea that only citizens with an invitation could enter the venue.
Architect Carlos Gracias said he had come for the presentation to give his inputs but was disappointed to see a board stating that the presentation was restricted only to the invitees. Gracias questioned when the GSUDA will hold a presentation for the members of the public. “We want to know what the Master Plan is all about vis-à-vis the Outline Development Plan for Margao and on what basis the plan was prepared”, Gracias said.
Engineer Anthony Gonsalves insisted on transparency in the implementation of the master plan. “To avoid what has happened to Panaji, the plan should be discussed threadbare by the citizens. The plan is meant for the city and the citizens and not for any select group,” he said.
Social activist Avinash Tavares called for transparency before the implementation of the plan. “We do not mind if the presentation has been arranged for the builders, but hold a similar presentation for the stakeholders, including the citizens,” he said.
Convenor of NGO Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir, Jack Mascarenhas, said that no plan can achieve success unless inputs are sought from members of the public. “The agency that has prepared the Master Plan should answer a host of questions; the basis on which the plan is prepared, the carrying capacity and the development envisaged in the plan,” he said, adding, “the fact that the presentation is taking place behind closed doors and for a select group of citizens only makes us suspect there’s something suspicious”.
Another citizen pointed out that the master plan will not only affect the lives of Madgavkars but Saxttikars in general since Margao is the de facto capital of the Salcete.
