PANAJI
A new steering committee, headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, will now oversee approvals for mega projects in Goa.
The decision, announced in the Budget session, comes particularly in view of growing opposition to large-scale developments in villages, where residents claim they were unaware of approvals and raised concerns over the area’s capacity.
Speaking on Prudent Media’s Head On, Sawant said the Planning and Development Authorities and other agencies under the Town & Country Planning (TCP) must strictly adhere to regulations. He also called for tighter controls, stating that the committee will have the authority to approve or reject mega projects based on infrastructure feasibility.
“If a mega project requires approval, the committee will decide. If the infrastructure is inadequate, approval will not be granted. Micro-planning is essential because, in villages, large plots are often sold to builders who propose major projects without the necessary infrastructure in place. All this leads to protests,” he said.
For the first time, government departments including Public Works, Water Resources, Electricity and Sewerage among others will be part of the decision-making process.
Sawant conceded that the absence of these agencies in past approvals had led to inconsistencies, particularly at the village panchayat level. Details of the committee’s framework will be notified soon.
