PANAJI
Speaking to The Goan, chief town planner Dr ST Putturaju, said that the Board took the decision in order that the area can be properly planned and not go the way of haphazard planning. “As of now only a decision has been taken to notify it as a planning area. A planning authority will have to be constituted and then an ODP will have to be drawn up,” Putturaju said adding that now the area will be under the control of the government. When asked whether this would entail an FAR of 250 per cent as has been promised to the winning bidder for the Mopa airport, Putturaju said that decision would be taken as the ODP was being drawn up. In another significant decision, the Town and Country Planning Board has decided to increase the FAR for all municipal towns across the board from 80 per cent to 100 per cent which will now allow for one more floor to be built in all towns ruled by a municipal council for residential buildings. “Instead of ground plus two (excluding stilt parking) they will now be allowed a build height of ground plus three. It will come into effect in 14 towns,” Dr Putturaju said. The Board also gave its approval to the Mapusa Outline Development Plan (ODP) subject to certain suggestions and changes. “The NGPDA will now have to resubmit the plans after incorporating the changes,” Dr Putturaju added. The Mapusa ODP has been passed inclusive of the 20-lakh square metres of low lying paddy fields which have been earmarked for 250 per cent FAR Commercial Development, which North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) chairman Michael Lobo said would be done through a revenue sharing basis as a special scheme. The meeting also permitted industries to use 50 per cent of the open spaces within industrial estates as well as discussing the issue of access roads. “We discussed the issue of access roads as a prerequisite for granting permissions to housing. However there was no conclusion on the issue. The matter has been referred to a select group who will deliberate on it further,” Dr Putturaju said.
