Caution on RP 2021 Posted by: Navhind Times <http://www.navhindtimes.in/author/user/>January 28, 2015 in Opinion <http://www.navhindtimes.in/category/opinion/>
Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza might want to take the bull by the horns, but when it comes to the Regional Plan 2021 it is better to tread with caution. He recently told the media that one meeting to sort out issues (and issues there are many) was held on Monday and the second would be held Friday. It is interesting to note that the first meeting deliberated in 3,500 suggestions, most of which were private in nature. Private, in this case, would mean requests to release land locked in the regional plan for construction. What D’Souza did not say, and this could eventually become a stumbling block, is how many were considered. The good news though is that D’Souza is of the view that the plan should not be de-notified. Nothing stirs up passion in Goa like the regional plan. It was notified by the previous Congress government after a five-year long process that saw people’s participation for the first time. The exercise released forces that pushed and pulled in several directions and it was a miracle that the plan actually saw the light of day. Villages stepped up to the challenge and set up committees with technically competent persons to survey and finalise the plan. The fallout of this process was that villages began to think like republics and went beyond their brief. The result was opposition to new roads, widening of old roads and public utility projects. In addition, over 10,000 requests, which were never made public, were accepted directly by the town and country planning department and incorporated into the plan after a screening process. The BJP cashed in on the resentment against the plan and promised to de-notify it if elected to power. After it formed government a promise was made that plans would be sent back and the entire village would be allowed to vote on it. When it realised the complications such an exercise would create, it simply started delaying the process of reconciliation. However, by superimposing the regional plan 2001 on RP 2021 it sought to curtail conversion of land. This formula remained in place until D’Souza began the process to finalise the plan once and for all. One is tempted to ask if the Deputy Chief Minister has bitten off more than he can chew because there is a chance the process could spiral out of control if ground rules are not laid. First, the Deputy Chief Minister must clearly and unequivocally declare if the government is still keen on sending plans back to the village for reconsideration and voting. Second, since he agreed with the view expressed by Leader of the Opposition he must state if he also agrees that only plans of 15 villages need to be viewed afresh, or all. Third, he must specify how the department plans to deal with the 3,500 requests for land conversion. It might be recalled that over 1,000 revisions or amendments were made to RP 2001. Does the BJP government want to launch the plan with 3,500 revisions? Fourth, he has to state if new requests will be entertained. When dealing with the mining issue, the Supreme Court introduced the principle of inter-generational equity which when spelled out meant all the ore should not be exploited by one generation. This is the guiding principle behind the regional plan and hence special protection was accorded to forests, paddy fields, orchards, water bodies and hill slopes. Land was sought to be released on the basis of population requirements and economic needs. However, some powerful vested interests also got included in the process. If the intention of the Deputy Chief Minister is to weed out these vested interests and finalise the plan, it is welcome. If, on the other hand, fresh requests are going to be entertained, then it will result in chaos. The Deputy Chief Minister and government need to think carefully before venturing into the regional plan minefield.
