MARGAO
Are Margao’s tenanted fields shown as settlement zones on the Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Margao?
This question has come to haunt the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) as members met on Tuesday to discuss the draft-ODP for Margao and Ponda.
During discussions, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai made a startling revelation that the tenanted fields near his office have been shown in the ODP as settlement zone.
Though the PDA is expected to take into account the issues centered on planning, sources said the instance cited by the MLA may be just a tip of the iceberg.
Sources in the know informed that a plot of tenanted land, around the Margao railway station, is also believed to have been shown on the ODP 2028 as settlement.
The MLA pointed out that he has drawn the attention of the PDA that Comunidade tenanted fields of well-connected people have been shown as settlement zone, when they are tenanted low-lying agricultural fields.
The Fatorda MLA also called for the scrapping of the change of zone behind the Holy Spirit Church in the ODP 2028. He said the zone change was done to benefit the tenants, but he has now called for reverting the zone to settlement from commercial.
