July 26, 2012 TEAM HERALD
[email protected] PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar declared that panchayats will have an opportunity to submit their views in the second stage for formulation of Regional Plan 2021, but he would not open too many options, due to his apprehensions that the entire process had to be completed within an year. Reacting to a query from St Cruz legislator Atanasio alias Babush Monserrate ,Parrikar considered the MLA's suggestion during Question Hour on Wednesday over the role of village panchayats in the new RP 2021. The chief minister also agreed to consider the census report of 2011 while classifying rural/urban areas . "Will the village panchayats get a chance to address problems as far as the RP 2021 is concerned," Monserrate, the former town and country planning minister quizzed Parrikar. Parrikar responded that panchayats will have an opportunity to submit their views sometime after September 15, 2012. He once again told the assembly that from August 16 to September 15, 2012, time would be allocated to invite general suggestions. These views would thereafter be sent to the local bodies for their suggestions on certain aspects only. "I am not closing options but am not opening too many either," said Parrikar stating that the entire trouble with the previous plan was that the process was not completed in the first year. Planning, he impressed upon the house , should begin in the first year itself to avoid lock- jams. The chief minister tentatively projected that RP 2021would be finalised and the matter settled by February 2013. To a query on the old Outline Development Plans, Parrikar said that commonalities from the old Outline Development Plans and the revoked RP 2021 were being considered for giving licenses. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Main%20Page%20News/VPs-will-get-to-have-a-say-in-RP-2021-formulation-CM/62281.html
