PANAJI
Notwithstanding the public opposition, the State government on Wednesday notified the Outline Development Plan (ODP) 2031 of Margao planning area along with Ponda.
The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Board during its 196th meeting held on February 13, under chairmanship of the Minister Vishwajit Rane approved ODP 2031 of Margao and Ponda and the same were notified by the department within 24 hours.
“The said ODPs-2031 of Margao and Ponda Planning Area shall be subject to the provisions of “The Goa Land Development & Building Construction Regulation 2010” as amended from time to time,” Chief Town Planner Rajesh Naik said.
In case of both -- Margao and Ponda -- the draft ODP prepared in 2021 was kept on hold by the government in April 2022, as it decided to rope in consultants in the planning process. The Government and TCP directed the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) to draft a fresh plan in consultation with the consultants or experts.
Both the plans are available for the inspection at the SGPDA office.
Objections were raised by concerned citizens with regards to the draft Margao ODP requesting the SGPDA not to forward the plan for government approval as the plan is riddled with flaws and demanded immediate revisions. The citizens alleged that there was no transparency in drafting the plan and that the objections and suggestions raised by experts were not incorporated.
