MARGAO
Allaying the apprehensions raised in certain Salcete panchayat areas, Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai has firmly ruled out the inclusion of any panchayat areas of Salcete in the South Goa Planning and Development Authority
(SGPDA).
“I had made it amply clear on the floor of the House when the government had decided to form the Greater Panjim PDA, that the government has no proposal to include any of the Salcete villages in the SGPDA,” Sardesai said adding that the government decision is final and there isn’t going to be any change in the decision.
Sardesai’s comments assume significance and comes against the backdrop of fears raised in certain villages, including Colva that the tourist village may soon be included in the SGPDA. “There’s absolutely no truth in these fears. When I have made it abundantly clear on the floor of the House that there’s no question of including any more villages in the SGPDA, the issue is over,” he said.
Saying that the previous government may have in the past contemplated to include more areas in the PDA as part of the plan to form a Margao Municipal Corporation, Sardesai said, “the Corporation of Margao is also now ruled out when I am planning to carve out a separate municipal body for Fatorda. When the existing Margao Municipal Council is sought to be divided to form the Fatorda Municipal Council, there’s no question of forming a Corporation, leaving alone including the villages in the SGPDA.”
The SGPDA has jurisdiction over the planning areas of Margao Municipal Council and Ponda Municipal Council. The SGPDA had in the past exercised planning over some of the Salcete villages before its jurisdiction was withdrawn following protests from the villages.
