RP2021 opens back door for builders in Porvorim HERALD REPORTER FAR cry for Salvador-do-Mundo, Socorro
PANJIM, FEB 10 If there is a necessity for setting up a municipality in Porvorim, why should adjacent villages like Salvador-do-Mundo, Socorro and others suffer? And on what basis is the population projection arrived at for these villages? In other words, if the planners want Porvorim to be classified as VP1 as mentioned in the draft Regional Plan 2021, for it to emerge as commercial centre between Mapusa and the capital city, does it mean that the surrounding villages too should get the same classification? questioned Valentine Coelho, convenor of Socorro Civic Forum. VP1 classification allows a village 80% FAR for residential as well as commercial if the plot of land is less than 4000 sq mt. It is 60 % in case the plot if larger than 4000 s q mt. In VP2 villages, the FAR will be 60 and 40 respectively. Besides, questions are being raised over the population projection for villages shown in RP for 2021. Among all the villages in Bardez taluka, Socorro's population is estimated to go up by 60% in 2021. In 2001, its population was 10,174 and this is projected to jump to 26,052. As per the draft RP 2021, the projected population of Socorro in 2011 is 16,280. This means, the village will have 10,000 more persons in just ten years. On the other hand, the neighbouring village Salvador-do-Mundo (Saloi) will have a growth rate of just 14%. From the projected figure of 5809 in 2011, the village's population is rise to only 6637, which means in ten years its demographic rise will be just 700-plus compared to Socorro's 10,000. "This is totally absurd," chairman of the Village Committee on RP2021 Dinesh Dias said. Moreover, the population growth of Bardez villages in over 20 years (2001-2021), as per Regional Plan projection, is to go up by 300-plus in some panchayats while in some other cases, it will be 30% while in few others it will be 200%. In contiguous areas like Salvador-do-Mundo, Socorro and Penha-de-Franca (Britona), there could not have such a varying disparity, Dias feels. Penha-d-Franca's growth rate is nearly half of Socorro's in ten years while Salvador-do-Mundo is just 14%. There is no logic and consistency at all, he said. This is on the eastern side of the National Highway 17 (Porvorim) while the situation on the western side also makes an interesting reading. While Pilerne's population is to go up to nearly 10,000 in 2021 showing a huge 53.49 % growth rate, Reis Magos is projected to see a growth rate of just 16% for the same period. The population figures for 2021 for Salvador do Mundo and Socorro are inflated to justify the area as VP1, charged Dinesh adding this classification for these villages is deliberately done. But, why? The answer is obvious, according to Dinesh. "Both Salai and Socorro are classified as VP1 to facilitate creation of municipality in Porvorim and to benefit the builders". Incidentally, Reis Magos, and Penha-d-Franca are also put in VP1. "We totally disagree with the draft RP's proposal to classify Socorro in VP1". Just because the planners intend to develop Porvorim, it doesn't mean that the entire village should have the same FAR. "So what will be the difference between a highly urbanized Porvorim - going by what they are planning for the plateau area - and the village down the valley?" questioned Coelho. The present proposal is obviously to help the builders and what is worse, the FAR for VP1 is already being applied in Socorro, he said. Several projects are either under construction or proposed within 2 sq km in the village off NH-17. A huge project is coming up near Kamat Nagar and another is initiated near Police Housing Society while one more is proposed in the forested area where a road is under construction in place of traditional pathway. "The Town & Country Planning Department seems to be giving approvals without any respect for the ecology and the lungs of the village," Coelho said. The Socorro gram sabha, anticipating mega projects, had resolved that only single dwelling units and not more than 100 sq mt should be allowed. Convenor of Panchayati Raj of Peaceful Society, Soter D'Souza, maintaining that mega projects are not meant for villages, said enough scope should be kept for housing for the posterity. http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=17099&cid=2
