Navhind Times 16 October, 2007, [page 2, lead] GBA for participatory planning via decentralised approach NT Staff Reporter Panaji, Oct 15 The Goa Bachao Abhiyan has said that even before looking at amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act and other related Acts, it is essential to put a system of participatory planning via a decentralised approach in place. The GBA's call for participatory planning came at a recent daylong seminar on 'Review of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act, 1974' organised by the town and country planning department. The GBA was represented at the seminar by architect Ms Ritu Prasad and Ms Patricia Pinto. They gave a presentation on 'Towards Planning for the People, by the People….' The GBA stated that even before looking into the amendments to be made to the Goa, Daman and Diu Town and Country Planning Act, we need to discuss and understand the decentralised planning process as per the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments, with an open mind. As opposed to the present system, where plans are handed down from the state government, now local bodies (municipalities and panchayats) have to identify problems affecting their regions, set their own objectives and make their own town or village plans. People's participation should not be restricted to merely submitting "objections" or "comments" on plans made at the upper level but rather in conceptualising the vision and plan for Goa. The GBA said that this new decentralised planning process will require changes to be made not only to the Town and Country Planning Act, 1974, but also the Municipalities Act and the Panchayati Raj Act. All Acts have to be framed in tandem with each other and then only can we be assured of a proper development process for Goa, the GBA felt. The GBA has proposed a 3-tier participatory planning process. At the first level is the local body plus the ward development committees. These are not as per geographical areas but covering all sectors and functions as identified in the 11th and 12th schedules. These should include representatives of the people, professional experts including technical support by the government nodal agencies like town and country planning department, irrigation, forests, etc. At the second level is the District Planning Committee and the Technical Advisory Committee, which is essential as this level is the key intermediary which meshes the local aspirations with the overall vision. At the third level is the State Planning Board plus the Planning Cell (technical working group). It is very essential for this board to be broad based and autonomous, and should consists of 50 per cent government officials from key government departments and 50 per cent professionals nominated by their professional organisations, experts and recognised NGOs in the field of development (environment, sociology, economics, etc), representatives from commerce and industry, etc. The GBA stated that at the state level it is very important to have an overall vision statement. At the district levels, we have development plans, which fit within the regional policies and these would include physical, social, economic and ecological development schemes, etc. At the local level, based on data, a local strategic vision needs to be evolved. At the district level, all the local visions are collated into a district level integrated vision. At the state level, central policies and plans are incorporated and with interaction between the district and state, this would lead to an overall vision for the state keeping in mind the local aspirations. ENDS
________________________________ -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
