the goan I network
PANAJI
In view of the Margao and Ponda Outline Development Plans (ODP) that have been notified on March 7, the Congress has objected to the hurried manner in which the ODP was notified and on Friday asked the government to withdraw the notification.
Speaking on behalf of the party, architect Tulio De Souza, spokesperson, said that the gazette notification contradicted the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act. As such, the Opposition said that it would file its objections in court, which is allowed within a month of the ODP being notified.
“The ODP 2028 was notified in a mighty hurry in view of the model code of conduct and the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,” said De Souza at the Congress headquarters. “If the ODPs are allowed to go forward as planned, it will change the landscape of Margao forever. The government has gone ahead with the development plans without carrying out a proper study of housing requirements in these areas,” said De Souza.
De Souza appealed to TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai to revisit the genuine objections of the people, and not allow for any suggestions for the ODPs. Though the gazette notification welcomes suggestions, De Souza said that Article 35 of the TCP Act does not allow for any suggestions from the people, but instead asks for objections. While Article 39 of the Act speaks of making minor changes to development plans, the ODPs will see many major changes.
Fatorda block in-charge Piedade Noronha told the media that the ODP will see fields that are currently being cultivated turned into settlements. While South District President Joe Dias said that the ODP was mainly to benefit the builders and not the common man.
The two ODPs were approved at the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) meeting on February 28, and were given a nod at the 156th board meeting of the TCP on March 1. The government gave its approval to the ODPs on March 7, and it was notified in the official gazette on the same day.
The Margao and Ponda MLAs (Digambar Kamat and Ravi Naik) who belong to the Congress, were, by default, part of the committees formed to draft the ODPs. However, they were not made a part of the sub-committees formed to draw up the ODP. Kamat had told ‘The Goan’ that he stayed away from the meetings as he was kept in the dark over the proposals filed by the sub-committee.
