MARGAO
All eyes are focused on the meeting of the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) scheduled on Thursday, with PDA Chairman Mauvin Godinho exuding confidence that the ODP will be approved at Thursday’s meeting, even as the Margao Municipal Council and the PWD have sought one month’s time to study the draft ODP before offering suggestions to the PDA.
The PDA chairman has further questioned the resolution adopted by the Margao Municipal Council not to issue construction licence to project based on the new ODP, saying the civic body cannot stall plans approved under the notified ODP. “Where’s the question of stalling construction licences to project based on the new ODP. Can the civic body take such a resolution," Mauvin asked.
The meeting is expected to start at 10.30 am and is expected to give its stamp of approval to the report of the sub-committee that went through the 500-odd suggestions and objections received by the PDA from members of the public. On the other hand, the three MLAs, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and Ponda MLA Lavu Mamletdar along with Margao Municipal Council Chairperson, Babita Prabhudesai are expected to oppose any move to pass the ODP in haste.
The SGPDA had already rejected the plea made by the PWD seeking a month’s time to file its suggestions to the ODP and PDA Chairman Mauvin Godinho is expected to adopt a similar stand on the demand made by the MMC seeking one month’s time to file the council’s suggestions.
Meanwhile, many an eyebrows have been raised in PDA quarters over the conversion of zones pertaining to a couple of properties to C1 Zone. Sources said the properties are located at Sirvodem-Margao, at Fatorda and at Arlem along the Eastern bypass.
Sources have demanded to know how the zone was changed from settlement to C1 commercial when there was initially a request for change in zone from settlement to C2 zone.
In the case of property at Arlem, pegged around 40,000 sq mts, sources said the PDA had received a suggestion for change of zone to S1. It is learnt that though the hearing was scheduled on November 25, the party had remained absent on that day and did not request for any fresh date. Reliable sources said though the issue was never discussed by the sub-committee, it has now come to light that there’s now recommendation for change in the zone to C1 zone.
The Costa ground is another case in point. The sub-committee was of the unanimous opinion that green space is required for the needs of Aquem locality as a portion of the land has been used as playground for the last several years. The sub-committee had recommended that the Southern portion of the property from centre line of road may be zone as commercial (C1) and balance land under recreational zone.
However, the PDA has decided not to change the Costa ground zone to recreational after perusing legal opinion since development permission earlier granted by the authority stands valid until July 8, 2017.
Meanwhile, ahead of Thursday’s meeting of the SGPDA, an inspection of the area near the bus stand was held on Wednesday with NGOs and activists led by Sanjeev Raiturcar along with the PDA Member Secretary Ashok Kumar.
