Oppn MLAs oppose move, say process cannot start without mandatory Land Use Map in place
MARGAO
South Goa Planning and Development Authority’s (SGPDA) move to put in place a new Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Margao and Ponda within two years of the notification of the previous plan has kicked up a row in the planning body.
At the SGPDA meeting on Tuesday, opposition MLAs, Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat and Vijai Sardesai vehemently opposed the move, saying the PDA cannot start the process for a new ODP without putting in place the mandatory Land Use Map. They further argued that any new ODP within two years is in violation of the five-year Horizon period, contending that no new ODP process can start unless the PDA puts in place the Comprehension Development Plan (CDP) within three years and half years after notifying the ODP.
Confirming that the two opposition MLAs, Kamat and Sardesai had raised their objections to the new ODP, SGPDA Chairman, MLA Wilfred D’Sa said the PDA will refer their objections to the Chief Town Planner (CTP) for clarifications before starting the exercise. “The government had decided to open the ODP to make corrections in the plan. The SGPDA had received complaints from the people seeking rectifications in the ODP citing glaring violations,” Wilfred said, adding ‘whatever objections raised by the two MLAs will be forwarded to the Chief Town Planner (CTP) for clarification’.
Earlier, both Kamat and Sardesai claimed that the SGPDA is rushing about with the new ODP when the existing ODP is just two years old. “How can the SGPDA start an exercise for a new ODP within two years of the notification of the last ODP. By this time, the SGPDA should have started the process to formulate the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP). They have failed to do the CDP within three years and half, but is rushing with an exercise to formulate a new ODP,” Sardesai said.
He further pointed out that even if the SGPDA wants to kick-start the new ODP process, the Authority cannot do so without first putting in place the Land Use Map. “In the past, the ODP had to be kept on hold after activists had raised objections to the PDA’s failure to put the land use map in place. We want to tell the PDA that it should put the land use map and the CDP in place before going for a new ODP,” Sardesai said, warning the PDA not to rush with the proposal saying the ODP matter is pending in the court.
Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat wondered how the government can go ahead with the new ODP process in violation of the Horizon period and without putting the CDP in place. “The ODP was notified in March 2019 and the question that now arises is why there’s a need for the new ODP. Even if the government has any such plan, the Land Use Map should be first finalised. What is the use of the new ODP within two years,” he said, adding ‘tomorrow, someone will come up with a proposal to open the ODP within six months’.
