Thumbs up to Calangute-Candolim and Taleigao outline development planS; 5% floor area ratio allowed for eco-tourism projects in the state
the goan I network
PANAJI
In several significant decisions, the Town and Country Planning Board on Monday approved the outline development plans (ODP) for Calangute-Candolim and Taleigao planning areas and also gave its nod to a potentially game-changing rule for granting approval to eco-tourism projects by which natural green cover areas will be allowed up to 5% FAR.
TCP Minister, Vijai Sardesai, who chaired the board meeting held at the State Secretariat said, eco-tourism projects proposed on land parcels between 10,000-20,000 square metres of land, except low-lying khazans and private forests, are eligible to avail the 5 % FAR.
For projects on land parcels above 20,000 square metres, the FAR permitted will be only 3%, he said, adding that it is aimed at promoting tourism in the hinterland areas as well as agro-tourism in other green areas.
To fulfill another objective of adding glamour and making agriculture an attractive proposition to youth, it will be made compulsory that those proposing these eco-tourism projects possess a ‘krishi card’.
“It will be an avenue for agriculturists to add an economic activity to their farming operations,” Sardessai said.
Meanwhile, Sardessai said, the approval of the Calangute-Candolim ODP plan was long overdue as it was pending since 2016. Although it has now been approved, certain objections raised by locals and activists will be considered and decided individually by the government, he added.
“Objections raised to some cases, including a hotel project in a salt pan area, are genuine and will be reviewed later. If necessary the permissions granted will be revoked,” Sardesai said.
As for the Taleigao ODP, Sardessai said there were no issues raised from any quarters and since it covers the entire area of a single constituency he hoped that all development henceforth will progress as per the plan.
Meanwhile in another major decision, the TCP Board also approved a policy by which all commercial projects, including in the public sector (government), with more than 2000 square metres of built-up area proposed, will compulsorily have to be ‘green buildings’.
Sardesai said, the TCP department is tying up with the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) to evolve a green building certification protocol and the policy will come into force from January 2019. “We will opt for a single ‘gold rating’ for green buildings,” Sardesai said adding that even government projects including the Mopa airport will come under the ambit of this rule.
Meanwhile, the land use plans for the Margao-Ponda and the Baga-Arpora planning areas was considered by the Board in Monday’s meeting, Sardessai said.
Preparing land-use plans is one of the objectives of the Planning and Development Authorities but had all along been ignored. Sardesai said by considering the land-use plans of Ponda-Margao and Baga-Arpora areas, the TCP Board has set the ball rolling for all Planning and Development Authorities to prepare land-use plans for the areas under their jurisdiction.
