the goan I network
PANAJI
Goemkars Against PDAs has criticised the state government’s decision to partially withdraw areas from the jurisdiction of the Greater Panaji Planning and Development Authority saying that the very concept of regulating development through PDAs rather than the local self-government bodies mandated by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments was erroneous.
GAP’s convenor, Arturo D’Souza, expressed dissatisfaction with the notification issued by the Town and Country Planning Department withdrawing only part of the areas from the jurisdiction of the GPPDA headed by former minister Atanasio Monserrate.
“We have no option left but to challenge the State government resorting to the provision in the TCP Act which provides for constituting PDAs in the High Court,” D’Souza said.
He however did not set any time frame by which GAP will approach the High Court.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, D’Souza was severely critical of TCP Minister, Vijai Sardessai for being “selective” in excluding parcels of land from the jurisdiction of the GPPDA.
He cited the example of Survey Nos 235, 236,237, 238 and 239 from St Cruz village which he claimed were ‘No Development Zones’ according to the Regional Plan 2021 but continue to be in the jurisdiction of the GPPDA.
D’Souza also raised the issue of several survey numbers which continue to remain in the GPPDA jurisdiction which lie on the Taleigao Plateau around the Goa University land.
“These are green areas and mainly wooded,” D’Souza said, adding that their investigations have revealed that large parcels of land in this area belongs to certain influential industrialists which could be the reason for retaining them in the GPPDA.
“How does the government decide how much land needs to be developed? Does it have any idea what is the housing requirement? Goa is not an investment destination for real estate,” asked activist Rama Kankonkar of GAP.
D’Souza made a strong case for the government to revert back to formulating Village Development Plans through consultations at the panchayat level.
“This is the mandate of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. But the State government is only interested in promoting development through PDAs to flood the villages with high-rise projects,” he said.
Several five-storeyed projects have come up in St Cruz owing to the TCP department relying on the ODP and granting an FAR of 80% instead of going by the Regional Plan under which St Cruz has a ‘VP-II Status’ wherein a maximum of 60% FAR is allowed.
