MARGAO
As the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) has set in motion the process to put in place a new Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Margao, a glance at the draft Land Use Map reveals that the last vestige of green cover, comprising of the agricultural fields and low lying areas, is now literally confined to the city’s outskirts, bordering the villages.
In fact, one can see a contiguous patch of green belt on the Land use map, stretching from Davondem, bordering Nuvem in the north, and running down south, right from the wholesale fish market and Mungul, Comba towards the Rawanfond-Colmorod belt opposite the Margao Railway station, near the Francis Luis Gomes district library.
A close look at the Land Use map suggests that Fatorda area plays host to major chunk of the city’s lush green landscape, comprising of the agricultural and low lying fields. Besides, the large tracts of fields spanning around Davondem-Chandrawado belt and the agricultural fields in and around the wholesale fish market, the fields adjoining the Nehru stadium, both along the eastern and western side, behind the KTC bus stand, are another area, where one can see green cover in Fatorda.
As far as Margao is concerned, major portion of the agriculture fields are concentrated on the southern side of the City, especially around the Colmorod-Rawanfond stretch opposite the Margao railway station.
The area along the ring road stretch between the Aquem side of the Margao railway station and the Power house and patches of fields around the Rawanfond area are the last remains of green cover in Margao.
Though the Land Use map does not reflect the green cover atop the Monte Hill in and around the Chapel area, besides trees and vegetation dotting the Pajifond, Ambaji hillock and Aquem, these lush green hills are the last vestige of greenery in the commercial capital.
Ashok D’Costa of Turbo Sketch, who was engaged by the SGPDA to prepare the Land use Map for Margao ahead of the preparation of the Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Margao said the green cover denotes the agricultural low lying fields and the open spaces around the city. “I cannot say exactly the percentage of agricultural fields or green cover left intact in Margao and Fatorda. But, it could be in the region of little over 10-15 per cent of the total land use area,”, Ashok said.
