Only 29% land released for settlement; people asked more

Village groups demanding scrapping of RP21

While village groups allege that the Regional Plan 2021 is a builder-friendly exercise, reality shows that the State Level Committee has released only 29 per cent of land for settlement purpose out of what was actually asked for by the people.

Facts and figures gathered officially from the town and country planning department reveal that gramasabhas at villages panchayats as well as individuals from all 12 talukas had asked for 37,494 hectures, which means 37 crore 94 lakh 90 thousand square metres of land to be coverted.

However the SLC released only 11,016 hectres of land – around 11 crore square metres – which comprises only 29 per cent of the land people had asked to be converted.

The SLC, besides the town and country planning department officials, comprise of internationally renowned architect Charles Correa as well as leading local architects and planners like Dean D’Cruz, Rahul Deshpande and Brian Soares.

The village groups, presently demanding scrapping of the RP21, allege that the SLC has played in the hands of builders and real estate lobby.

Since the RP21 is found to have committed serious errors, the state government has invited objections and suggestions from the people and panchayats in order to rectify the errors.

The previous deadline of 5 December has been extended to 20 December.

The department sources however reveal that around 90 per cent of the applications received till date once again ask for conversion of their land to settlement, even from agricultural and forest land.

The town and country planning department plans to disclose all the names of the people who have asked for land conversions for settlement purpose, contrary to the land reserved by the SLC.

The taluka-wise break up of these requests and land released (in hectres) by the SLC is as follows:

Bardez and Ponda taluka in North Goa have benefited the most in terms of meeting their demands with 67 and 72 per cent of land being released for settlement.

All other four talukas however got less than half what was asked for.  Lowest among it are 21 per cent in Sattari and Pernem.

Except 57 per cent of requests being met in Salcete, all other talukas in South Goa however are given settlement area below 35 per cent. Lowest among it are 18 per cent in Canacona, 14 per cent in Quepem and only 10 per cent in Sanguem. 

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