*Goa Bachao Abhiyan* [email protected]
* Press Note *2nd Feb 2017 *Challenging the discriminatory Outline Development Plan for Panaji, 2021. Arbitrary preparation and hurried notification of this plan will affect every citizen and their quality of life.* In an attempt to uphold true participatory systems of planning, the GBA has assisted in the filing of an appeal in public interest to challenge the current notified ODP for Panaji 2021. This is filed through the Goa Heritage Action Group ( GHAG ), whose interests lie with protection of Goan heritage, and Sabina Martins, convenor of GBA. The GBA has actively been following the method of handling the Outline Development Plan ( ODP ) of Panaji along with other ODP's and has provided inputs to the North Goa Planning & Development Authority as far as public interest is concerned. The ODP is to fit within the structure of the Regional Plan yet still occupies a space of privilege outside the purview of the Regional Plan in defiance of all logic. Worse, the hurried manner in which the ODP was notified just before the election code of conduct reflects a brazen attempt to favor a few at the cost of the public. Disregard for methods and systems unfortunately has become a habit with the Government as far as land use is concerned, something with drastic far reaching consequences that the general public will realize only too late. The key issues the Government has defied and is answerable for are the following - 1. Plan not followed consultative process or procedures ignoring the City Corporation of Panaji as well as the Conservation Committee, as well as inputs from civil society groups placed in public interest. 2. Absence of vision and studies and in total contradiction of policies adopted for the ODP 2011. 3. Environmental implications from unnecessary re-development of buildings less than 10 years, Hi-density zones on steep slopes. 4. Random insertion of High density zones on singular plots as small as 500sqm with no studies on congestion and carrying capacities of infrastructure. Neighbourhood character of residential wards of Ribandar Miramar, Caranzalem and Donapaula impacted, furthermore the quality of life of its residents. 4. Arbitrary reduction of recreational zones ( open spaces ) and heritage precincts. 5. The critical building regulations for new zones incomplete at the time of public viewing, amounting to information being withheld. While in a hurry to introduce super buildings above 12 storeys, they forgot everything that goes with it such as fire fighting access and safety. 6. The Committee passed the entire Plan within 3 days of its last day of receipt of public objections/suggestions, a time far too short to prepare a comprehensive policy based on feedback. Understandably the only changes seen are of individual requests for zone changes to plots, for private individual gain and not public interest, which is illegal and irregular in planning. 7. The hurried notification of 28th of December 2016, a few days before the code of conduct was announced, even with a footnote mentioning that it can be read only together with the by-laws which were yet to be notified. The game of FAR increase is a known money spinner and has been abused without restraint in the Panaji ODP. If these methods have been used for the ODP, the treatment of any other plan including the Regional Plan is under threat. We challenge this random method of planning and ask to revert to a healthy planning process which is as always, a dialogue between a democratic Government and its people as per the 74th & the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution. Thanking You Reboni Saha - Secretary Goa Bachao Abhiyan
