RP-2021 gets some bouquets too; Charles defends it stoutly
BY A STAFF REPORTER
PANJIM: The Regional Plan 2021, under attack from NGOs and other quarters,
got a strong defence from the face of the 'Save Goa' movement Dr Oscar
Rebello.
At the same venue, Padma Vibhushan, Charles Correa, the guiding spirit
behind the plan, also pooh-poohed criticism of the plan and backed it
one-hundred per-cent.
"It's an excellent plan that needs to get off the ground," Dr Rebello said
at a panel discussion on "Goa in the 21st Century" held at the International
Centre Goa, on Tuesday night culminating the three-day Goa Arts and Literary
Festival.
Reputed Town Planner, Edgar Ribeiro and Sanjit Rodrigues the nodal officer
for the state level committee that drafted the RP-2021 were also part of the
discussion as was Architect Rahul Deshpande, another member of the SLC.
Interestingly, Ribeiro had at the same discussion slammed the plan for
meekly submitting to the dictates of "political interests". As reported by
GT in its Wednesday edition, Ribeiro had also highlighted that the reason
for him to walk out of the Task Force in a huff was the decision to exclude
ODPs from the RP-2021. Dr Rebello meanwhile, termed the plan "excellent".
"This is a suggestive plan of what Goa should be. When the ultimate projects
in those areas (eco-tourism projects and growth hubs) are to be decided,
that is the time for us people to once again ensure that only what we want
is allowed," he said.
"Charles Correa, Rahul Deshpande and others have absolutely no ulterior
motives. They do not need to come to Goa and come up with a plan for the
state, yet they did it. They are the buffer between the government' and us.
We have to work and ensure that the government sees that it (plan) is
implemented," Rebello said, adding that it would be back to square one where
the politicians decide what projects i they want under RP 2001. I Dr Rebello
also expressed I pain at criticism directed at Correa.
"This is something that Correa does not deserve. Nobody is saying this is a
perfect plan, but using this we have to launch out. I Rather than
criticising, it is our job to ensure the plan is implemented in its spirit,"
he said. .
Correa defends
Correa stoutly defended the RP-2021 in the face of the criticism from NGOs.
"We have planned industrial zones, micro industrial zones, etc in certain
places. It only means that in these places we recommend growth should be
centred. Ulltimately it is for the government to decide whether or not there
should be industries there or not. Secondly it need not be only I
industries. I apologise for using the word industry. I should have rather
used the word 'work centre' which means where people will get jobs.
Ultimately the people of that area decide what the work centre should be
like and the government should ideally go by their wishes," Correa said.
"There has already been opposition to eco-tourism projects. There have been
much worse and haphazard projects at Calangute and Candolim. Why should Per
nem people be denied a share in the tourism pie, that too in a planned and
regulated way?," he retorted.
The exasperation showed on Correa's face as he explained what the plan meant
and how critics have misconceived it to be just zone mapping.
Deshpande hits out
Architect Rahul Desh-pande, also a member of the State-level committee has
hit out at NGGs for raising petty issues like scrapping of VPIII status,
saying they were missing the big picture.
"There is a general public perception that RPG-21 is just another mapping
exercise coupled with the sole thrust of saving of eco zones and converting
settlement zones. Both the Government as well as the public need to view
RPG-21 in the same way as it was conceived not just as a map making
exercise, but as a holistic and intergrated plan for sustainable growth of
Goa taking all sectors into account," Deshpande said.
"The problem is not with the FAR, it is the boom in construction industry.
When Goa was liberated FAR was 100 all over the state, then it was reduced
to 80. Yet there was no problem," he said, adding that the real estate boom
is what has made people rise.
"We have to tackle the greater evil of the construction industry and second
I homes. That we llave attempted to do through the suggestion of
non-occupancy tax and an automatic reduction in FAR in plots bigger than
4,000 sq meters," he said.
(GOMANTAK TIMES, 16/12/2010)
--
Goanetter Valmiki Faleiro's book 'Patriotism in Action: Goans In India's Defence
Services' release on Dec 18, 2010 at 5.30 pm. Goa Chitra Museum, Benaulim. Available in
Goa: Confidant/David&Co (Margao), Broadway, Literati, Other India-Mapusa, Sainik
Coop, at Mumbai (David & Co), Pune (Manney's, Popular), Bangalore (Narayan), Delhi
(Ritana).
