Dear Editor,
The Chief Minister of Goa has set up the Task Force to advise him on how to
proceed with the formulation of the next Regional Plan for Goa - 2021. The
Task Force is already in action, and several meetings have been held. It
is the demand of the citizens of Goa that no works which had been envisaged
under the withdrawn Regional Plan 2011 be allowed to continue until the new
Regional Plan 2021 in formally notified by the Government of Goa.
It is therefore very surprising to read in the local newspapers that the
Planning and Development Authorities are proceeding with the Outline
Development Plans, and that the NGPDA has even publicly declared that it is
actively preparing the Comprehensive Development Plans for Panjim and
Mapusa.
It is baffling to the ordinary citizen that such ODPs are being processed
without any reference to the Regional Plan. How can ODPs be prepared
without showing how they fit into the Regional Plan? Moreover, the
Planning and Development Authorities themselves have been rendered redundant
by the 73rd. and 74th. amendments to the Constitution of India. They have
no legal locus standi whatsoever and they are exercising non-existent
powers. Their actions can be construed as being totally illegal and
unconstitutional
The Chief Minister should take immediate steps to put a complete halt to the
work of the PDAs and to stop the process of calling for public comments on
the ODPs until the new Regional Plan 2021 is legally in force.
Yours truly,
Averthanus L. D'Souza,
Tel: 2453628.
