No mega project without people’s approval, says AAP

the goan I network
PANAJI
No mega-project should be given permission in the state unless it is put up for public scrutiny, the Aam Aadmi Party has said offering its support to the Goencho Avaz’s April 27 meeting against PDAs and the Regional Plan 2021 in its present form. 
Addressing a press conference, AAP’s Dean D’Cruz said that all across the world projects are put up in the town halls for the people to give their suggestions and objections including on issues whether new buildings will block the sunlight, wind, etc. 
“Here mega projects that severely stress village resources are being allowed without the approval of the villagers. The TCP Department should be a department to only give technical support,” Dean D’Cruz said. 
D’Cruz who was part of the earlier task force that finalized the Regional Plan said that the initial idea was to have the people ratify the regional plan once it was drafted, but because of various issues including the fast-approaching elections then, the plan was finalised and drafted. 
“The RP 2021 needed corrections of insertions that went against the overall interest of Goa, shown as large ‘proposed’ roads servicing suspect settlement areas, very large eco-tourism projects, and randomly placed industrial zones and other suspect zones like film cities, MIZs etc. The original Plan was to be ratified by the villages before their notification. However this was notified without correction or peoples participation and has been placed in its entirety for action as of March 2018,” 
As of today, the ridiculous situation exists where any MLA may sit as chairperson of the board and dictate land use changes for favourites in complete conflict of interest,” Dean added.  
The AAP cited the Panaji situation where the capital city has its plans drawn up without taking into consideration the CCP but some other body headed by an MLA from some other part of Goa. “Such boldness has spawned many politicians to jump into the fray, setting up arbitrary zones of planning in villages like Parra-Arpora- Nagoa,” he said. 
The AAP has demanded that the government immediately incorporate the 73rd/ 74th amendment into the TCP Act so that planning is done with people’s participation. A similar attempt was made in March 2009 where an amended version of the TCP Act was introduced in the Legislative but later lapsed. 
The AAP has also demanded that the government scrap all existing PDAs and de-notify Outline Development Plans, accepting people’s true participation in planning and keep the RP2021 in abeyance till the TCP Act is amended. 
“The RP was in abeyance for so long, keeping it in abeyance for a few more months will not make a difference,” D’Cruz said. 
Send the draft RP to the villages for ratification with clear guidelines, using people’s participation in ward planning and Gram Sabhas to finalize the same.