ODPs and PDAs not for villages: Calangute activist Benedict D’souza welcomes TCP Min’s move

CALANGUTE, GOA: Stating that Outline Development Plans (ODPs) and Planning and Development Authorities (PDAs) are not suitable for villages, most of which dot most of Goa’s coastline, both in North and South Goa, social activist and former Calangute Congress Block President Benedict D’souza welcomed the move by Vishwajit Rane, Goa’s new Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister to suspend the ODPs and PDAs.

D’souza took to social media to congratulate Rane on his decision to review all TCP zone change approvals since 2018, stating that villages do not need ODPs and PDAs and that they should be discarded.

Rane in a major decision that created a huge flutter in Goa’s real estate sector, decided to review all the proposals that got approvals since 2018 when Section 16B of the Town and Country Planning Act (TCP) was introduced.

The Congress leadership in Goa had vociferously protested against the 16B provision when it was introduced, with former Goa Pradesh Congress President Girish Chodankar alleging that approvals were being given on a (suit) case to (suit) case basis, referring to alleged corruption and bribery involved by the builder lobby in an attempt to develop huge tracts of green.

Rane’s decision will put back on the drawing board 1,700 applications, whose proposals for zonal change has either received provisional or final approval.

He also hinted at the possible suspension of the Outline Development Plans (ODPs) – final as well as the draft – prepared by the respective Planning and Development Authorities (PDAs).

Rane, who chaired the first meeting of the new TCP Board decided to examine these plans considering pending court cases and public objections.

The government has notified the ODPs of Vasco, Parra, Arpora-Nagoa, Candolim, Panjim, Mapusa, Calangute, Margao, Taleigao and Ponda planning areas, while the ODP of Kadamba Plateau under Greater Panjim Planning Area is in the draft stage.

Over 1,431 provisional approvals and 250 final approvals were granted for zone change under 16B since its introduction in 2018. “We will reject all those cases where we find deviation from rules and regulations,” Rane said.

On the ODP front, Rane sought a detailed presentation on all final and draft ODPs from the TCP Department during its next Board meeting, which will be held soon.

Rane said that under grave emergency, the Board has powers to suspend the ODPs if it finds discrepancies or deviation from rules and regulations. “Also, there are lot of court cases, public objections… based on seriousness of cases or in major discrepancies, the Board will have to take drastic steps,” Rane asserted.

The ODPs of Panjim, Calangute, Candolim and Parra have moved the court in this regard and the matter is sub- judice.