PANAJI
Criticising the State government’s move to increase FAR for hotels at Kadamba plateau, the Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) has claimed the enhanced FAR and ‘Strengthening Section 16B’ are arbitrary and has demanded the withdrawal of the decision.
“This is simply about more concrete with no thought to infrastructure like roads, power and electricity. Instead of strengthening enforcement against illegal activities and protection of the environment, we have a blanket increase of FAR made to sound like an achievement of planning,” said GBA convenor Sabina Martins.
“Taking pressure off congested areas like Panaji makes sense, but jumping straight to FAR of 400 is something that even Noida does not have, picture the disaster in the making.”
Martins said the additional FAR has been granted for hotels in the name of ‘tourism’ without any caveat of road width, fire and safety preconditions.
“Why would tourists come to a place with more traffic jams than their own urban home towns,” asked Martins.
Martins claimed that allocating the Kadamba plateau with 400 FAR and ‘Strengthening Section 16b’ are counterproductive and a terrible start for Goa.
“With such ad-hoc decisions, we have come a full circle with no learning even after going through the entire public exercise of the Regional Plan in 2012. It is critical to have a 10-year visionary master plan that fits in all requirements of stakeholders like a jigsaw puzzle, so that each zone can function the way it must,” Martins added.
Is high FAR really required, asks RibeiroPANAJI: Questioning whether such a decision was really required in the present situation, architect Armino Ribeiro also wondered if there was sufficient to manage the new construction. “I am not in favour of a high FAR. If at all needed, the decision has to be used judiciously. Do we really think that Panaji is under such pressure to have such density of construction at Kadamba plateau? Do you have the infrastructure to manage this new construction,” asked Rebeiro.panaji: Questioning whether such a decision was really required in the present situation, architect Armino Ribeiro also wondered if there was sufficient to manage the new construction. %E2%80%9CI am not in favour of a high FAR. If at all needed, the decision has to be used judiciously. Do we really think that Panaji is under such pressure to have such density of construction at Kadamba plateau?%20Do%20you%20have%20the%20infrastructure%20to%20manage%20this%20new%20construction,%E2%80%9D%20asked%20Rebeiro.
PANAJI: Questioning whether such a decision was really required in the present situation, architect Armino Ribeiro also wondered if there was sufficient to manage the new construction. “I am not in favour of a high FAR. If at all needed, the decision has to be used judiciously. Do we really think that Panaji is under such pressure to have such density of construction at Kadamba plateau? Do you have the infrastructure to manage this new construction,” asked Rebeiro.
PANAJI: Questioning whether such a decision was really required in the present situation, architect Armino Ribeiro also wondered if there was sufficient to manage the new construction. “I am not in favour of a high FAR. If at all needed, the decision has to be used judiciously. Do we really think that Panaji is under such pressure to have such density of construction at Kadamba plateau? Do you have the infrastructure to manage this new construction,” asked Rebeiro.
Decision to benefit hotel industry, says architect Prabhugaonker
PANAJI: Architect Manguesh Prabhugaonker, a national council member on the Indian Institute of Architects, said the State government’s decision would benefit the hotel industry which is suffering due to the Covid pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war.
“Two and three starred hotels will especially benefit from the decision. The only thing that the additional heights need to be in consolidated clusters for new constructions and for old constructions, it has to follow a detailed analytical framework and guidelines for growth too.”
“The government should have a strict monitoring mechanism for this,” said Prabhugaonker.
