SGPDA to engage services of experts in architecture, engineering to draw up new plans
the goan I network
MARGAO
It's official. The 500-odd suggestions and objections received by the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) for inclusion in the Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Margao and Ponda will be relegated to the dustbin following the PDA's decision to scrap the controversial ODP.
In another decision, city-based architects and engineers will be roped in for the first time to prepare the draft ODP for the two towns in the wake of aspersions cast at the PDA officials relating to their educational qualifications. The decision to hire experts in the field of architecture and engineering also comes against the backdrop of the PDA decision to not only put in place the ODP to change the zones, but to assist in the city's future planning.
While the SGPDA had scrapped the controversial ODP at the first meeting of the authority headed by Dr Renuka Da Silva, doubts were raised in PDA circles over the fate of the 500-odd suggestions and objections received by the PDA for inclusion in the ODP. In fact, the PDA officials were waiting for TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, who is also the Chairman of the Town Planning Board, to take a call on the fate of the 500-odd suggestions and objections received from various parties, including builders and real estate developers.
Sources said that the TCP Minister has told officials that that the PDA should commence the entire ODP exercise afresh and should not at all consider any of the 500-odd suggestions and objections received by the body in the run up to the finalization of the scrapped PDA.
When The Goan contacted the TCP Minister to shed light on the ODP, he said that since the ODP exercise will be started afresh, the question of taking cognizance of the 500-odd suggestions and objections received by the PDA does not arise at all. "The draft ODP will be placed before the public to file their objections and suggestions. People who had filed their suggestions and objections to the scrapped ODP are free to file their applications when the draft is made open for the public," the TCP Minister said, while saying that the entire planning exercise will be started afresh.
Asked to shed light on the decision to rope in the architects and engineers to take up the exercise of finalizing the draft ODP for Margao and Ponda, the TCP Minister said there were posts on the social media questioning the propriety of giving responsibility of preparing the draft ODP to certain officials, whose educational qualifications do not commensurate with the planning work. Moreover, he said the PDA has also felt that since the draft ODP exercise ought not to be just an exercise to change zones, but to do some serious planning of the city, it has been decided to rope in experts, including architects and the engineers to participate in the work.
The controversial ODP which was scrapped by the new PDA headed by Dr Renuka Da Silva had drawn flak from various stakeholders, including the Margao Municipal Council for not taking the local civic body into confidence before preparing the draft ODP.
The ODP had also come under fire from MLAs representing Margao, Fatorda and Ponda, prompting city-based NGO United Goans Foundation to knock the doors of the judiciary to stop the PDA from granting its stamp of approval for the controversial ODP.
