MAPUSA
Even as the villages of Parra and Arpora-Nagoa were denotified as planning areas more than a year ago, Deputy Sarpanch of Parra, Daniel Lobo on Sunday told the gram sabha that the government was following the outline development plan (ODP) to approve development projects in the village.
Lobo also assured that the panchayat will follow all the rules while formulating the ward level committee plans which will help in approving the village development plan.
The villagers also asked the panchayat to write to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department not to approve projects with individual swimming pools in Parra as the village was facing water problems.
“The town and country planning (TCP) department is approving development projects in the village as per the outline development plan,” said Lobo, who was chairing the gram sabha meeting.
The deputy sarpanch was responding to a query from a resident, Claude Alavares, who wanted to know under which law development proposals were being approved in Parra.
“Is the ODP or the Regional Plan in force? Panchayat may explain to the gram sabha, as this has important implications for development projects and their approvals in the village,” Alvares said.
Gram Sabha member, Norma Alvares said when Parra village was withdrawn from the planning area then the ODP cannot survive because the ODP is the creature of the planning area.
She also stated that while the government withdrew Parra from PDA, the TCP department issued a circular to all town planning offices asking to grant technical approval as per that ODP. “When the planning area is withdrawn, how ODP can be kept alive? We have challenged the order of the TCP,” Alvares informed.
The locals said since Parra was facing water problems no permission should be granted to projects with swimming pools.
“Write to the TCP department not to approve projects with individual swimming pools. This is wrong for Goa. Send a letter to the TCP that we do not want multiple swimming pools,” Norma said.
The Alvares couple also pointed out that the Parra panchayat was granting construction licences to development projects which violate provisions of the Goa Building Regulations and Regional Plan provisions.
Alvares asked the panchayat to disclose how construction licence was issued to RS Developers for construction of a multi-flat project on no-development slope of survey no 215/14 located in Bokyachi Arradi ward.
However, Lobo refused to entertain the subject claiming that the issue cannot be discussed at the gram sabha but he can provide necessary information at the individual level.
“When there is a project which is causing problems to the village, how can the panchayat not discuss it in the gram sabha?” Norma questioned.
According to Claude, all development projects must be undertaken in line with a duly approved Village Development Plan. He said the village development committee is to be formulated based on Ward Level Committee Plans which was yet to be done in Parra and questioned why it has been delayed.
The deputy sarpanch said the process was on and all rules will be followed to constitute and form the Ward Level Committee Plans.
