CM plans to scrap RP21, GBA opposes
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 12 March 2012 16:16 IST
Chief minister Manohar Parrikar has announced that he would scrap the Regional Plan 2021 in next 10 days.
This is one of the assurances the Bharatiya Janata Party had given in its election manifesto.
He made the announcement at the BJP workers’ meeting held in Bicholim on Sunday.
The Goa Bachao Abhiyan, which spearheaded the agitation for the RP21, has however opposed scrapping of the plan.
The GBA now plans to meet the chief minister to explain its stand.
The GBA feels that the government should resume the hearings on objections and suggestions sent by the people and Gramsabhas in order to complete the process of corrections.
“Hearings towards the correction of the Regional Plan had commenced and 14 panchayats were heard before the process was stalled due to the election. The GBA expects the government to respond to this critical issue by completing the process of hearings in a transparent manner", states the organisation.
The GBA has also brought hard facts to the light regarding the demands made from some corners to scrap the plan.
According to the GBA, the special Gramsabhas were held in November and December last year in view of revisiting the plans. The voice of the people was made clear when an overwhelming 155 of 189 panchayats responded with requests for corrections while only 10 asked for scrapping the plan.
“Most of the panchayats leaned towards pointing out errors and correction for protection of eco-zones, while 90% of 3000- odd individual suggestions asked for conversion of their personal plots to settlement regardless of eco zones," the GBP points out.
The GBA reminded that it has been monitoring the process of preparing the RP 2021 over the last five years and demanded two months of public viewing and error correction of the final plans.
The GBA would do better to create hurdles in the path of the CM...Let the whole Plan be evaluated and those who have managed to get their huge chunks of lands converted may by using their political clout of money power should not be allowed to get away so easily...The common man would like to know as to why Dr. Oscar Rebellow left half ways and why the eminent Professor City Planner, got out half way......