PANAJI
Bowing to public pressure, the State government on Friday cancelled the GIS-based draft zoning plan of Pernem taluka with immediate effect.
The move comes days after the Pernem locals met the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant demanding to scrap the plan, failing which, they had threatened to take to the streets.
In a video message released, the Chief Minister informed that “considering the sentiments of the people of Pernem, the government has cancelled the draft zoning plan of Pernem taluka”.
“My government is committed to the development of Pernem and it will be done only by taking the people of Pernem into confidence. For now, after the discussion with the TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane, we have cancelled the plan", Sawant said in presence of Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar.
Sawant said that the government received several representations from the people against the plan and hence, respecting their sentiments, the government has taken the decision.
The draft plan, which was kept open for public suggestions, was vehemently opposed by the people of Pernem stating that the plan is drafted to facilitate the building lobbies and with vested interest. According to the draft plan, nearly 1.4 crore sq meters of land or 21 per cent of the green cover was proposed to be converted into a settlement.
After initially declaring not to scrap the plan, the government earlier this week had kept the plan in abeyance.
Minister for Town and Country Planning (TCP) Vishwajit Rane, too, through a video message said “you can use any word, abeyance or scrap. But as on date the plan does not exist anymore”.
“As on date, the plan is not in force. The plan was drafted with a focus on the development of Pernem taluka. But now there will be no more discussion on this plan,” Rane said.
He further said that as and when citizens and the government decide to have a plan for Pernem, a consultative process will be followed by taking the people into confidence and keeping politics aside.
“We are not in a hurry to draft a new plan. But whenever, we decide, we will reach out to every person including women, youth and senior citizens and take their views. Even our Central leadership believes in taking people into confidence in policy making decisions,” Rane said.
Meanwhile, the Minister assured that orchard lands in Pernem where people have their houses will be corrected as a settlement zone. “It is required to protect the houses of people living there,” he said.
