*Goa Bachao Abhiyan* C/o 77, Defence Colony, Alto Porvorim-Goa
[email protected] *9th Jan 2016* The Regional Plan was opened for suggestions, and we now have conflicting statements made by the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister about scrapping the plan! *1 - GBA stands for rectification of the Plan based on guidelines.* GBA demands immediate guidelines to be formulated to avoid confusion. *2 - GBA is against 'scrapping', de-notification' or 'withdrawal' of the Regional Plan.* If the RP2021 is de-notified/scrapped/withdrawn, the RP2001 prepared 30 years ago will be in force. As per the Town & Country Planning Act, Section 17C states clearly that the previous plan will be in force if present plan is withdrawn. The old plan has no clarity or protection of Eco-Zones in its policy. The old plan does not have village level detail plans. The lack of clarity in the RP2001 regarding application of eco-laws has lead to misinterpretation and many constructions being stayed by court cases. It will happen again. *3 - The RP2021 was notified by the previous government, however was used selectively based on an Order dated 4/6/2012 by the present government.* The 3 year exercise of the people was held in abeyance, and shockingly, the government kept legislating to bypass the regional plan for large projects. 1 - Continuously opening Outline Development Plans ( ODP's ) to favor a few. 2 - Increasing built up area ( FAR ) for select institutions, under state revenue head, despite it being a planning issue. 3 - Introduction of the overriding Investment Promotion Board Act ( IPB Act ) which flouts constitutional rights and the Regional Plan, and allows construction anywhere for 'investment'. 4 - Guidelines for Eco-Tourism projects, which violated Eco - sensitive Zones, have been passed under an urgent 'Ordinance' instead of waiting for the assembly session. *4 - GBA has repeatedly placed the demands for peoples participation, eco-protection with sustainable development with the past and the present governments, and over 9 years the regional plan is still uncertain.* We are yet to have a TCP Act amended for peoples participation, and accurate data collected for a new plan. We have no guarantee what future governments will do, as every government promises yet does not deliver, as the last 9 years show. *The GBA stand is to retain what is good such as marked Eco-Zones and rectify what is objectionable in this plan. We demand that the government form a committee with people from all relevant fields and prepare guidelines for processing changes to the Regional Plan 2021.* *A new plan can only come with an amended TCP Act for peoples participation and accurate ground data. Till then the rectified plan should remain in force.* Sabina Martins Reboni Saha Convenor Secretary
