TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING Whilst Goa University holds workshop on economic planning, and Goa Government keeps talking about Consumer Education awareness, revamping general education,creating jobs, road safety, crime, slums and so on, it is reported that five cities namely Ahmedabad, Rajkot (both Gujarat), Hyderabad, Nagpur, and Bhopal, will soon undergo a face lift with world class infrastructure and civic amenities.This will include state of the art water supply,sewerage, sanitation, waste management, transport and road networks ,with community participation and accountability ! Its a central government scheme where a total of Rs 550 billion has been earmarked for this project over a seven year period.The chosen ones had submitted detailed plans of their needs. They will get 50% of the total costs.
We urgently need for Goa to have professional and competent, world class, time bound well planned projects on the anvil hammered out with faculty of all institutions,corporate and community participation. We want action and not philosophy,pontification at speeches, tilted towards vested interests ,and precious little coordination , transparency and people partricipation.
