Draft RP attracts over 2700 suggestions, objections HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 3 With just 11 days to go for the deadline to end, more than 2700 suggestions and objections have been received by Town & Country Planning Department to the draft Regional Plan 2021. The department is expecting the suggestions and objections to be of three types – rectification of errors, request for change of zones and inputs in general. Sources said that most of the suggestions/objections received are more to do with individual cases than otherwise. Senior Town Planner S T Puttaraju expects the number to cross 3000. This is besides the recommendations of grass-root level bodies – village panchayats and municipalities. Village committees are busy compiling the information they have collected which they would have to present before a gram sabha to get its nod. The recommendations will then be sent to taluka/district -level committees. Some gram sabhas are convened on Easter Sunday which activist feel is a ploy by interested parties to get approval to the draft prepared by the village committees. It is seen as an attempt to push the agenda of some lobbies who cutting across party lines, are surreptitiously protecting real estate interest in some way or the other. This is seen mainly in places where land rates have hit the roof. Some of the committees, it is learnt, have not even visited hill-slopes or sensitive areas leave alone organising ward-wise visits. The Facilitation Centre in Panjim has been quiet busy in the last two weeks. This is because several village committees have been holding interactions with the State Level Committee on RP2021 to seek clarification and guidance on planning. Interestingly, villages from far flung areas have shown more interest in coming out with a better village plan as was seen from the interactions/consultations with state level committee at the Facilitation Centre, here. Mr Puttaraju clarified that the 25 metre major district road (MDR) road shown on the map, doesn’t mean that houses along the road would be demolished forthwith. He said it is a provision for the future requirement as wider roads would be needed in the future. However, that doesn’t mean that houses will be demolished now. For new development in the area of 12.5 metres from the centre of the road, permissions may not be given. Instead, the developer will be given additional FAR for projects after leaving the set-back. ‘Hill-slope can still be bailed out of settlement’ Can a hill-slope or a virgin land in an eco-sensitive area, be still protected even if is categorized in Settlement Zone? Yes, according to Senior Town Planner S T Puttaraju. Mr Puttaraju who is closely associated with the draft RP 2021, said a plea to preserve the area can still be made (by 15th April) provided no constructions have come up there. If there is no construction come up or a project approved or committed made, then, the locals there can approach the authorities to preserve the area for future generations, he said. Sources said this could be hill-slopes or areas around them, which are eco-sensitive but the zoning has been changed to settlement by various governments in the past (with no exception). -- Linux is to computing what freedom is to mankind...and then there's Microsoft Devine Computers Abreovaddo, Saligao, Bardez, Goa. Ph: 2409544 / 9823118321 Branch: Opp Municipality, Shetye resicom, Shop #3. Bicholim Ph: 9422448900 / 2361147 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ This message comes via the Google Groups "Saligao-Net" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net?hl=en Please post regularly to keep the e-village active! -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
