With three months to go for the 2022 assembly elections, the state government has opened up the outline development plans (ODP) 2031 for Margao, Ponda, Kadamba Plateau and Panaji, even though the present plans are valid till 2028.
The South Goa planning and development authority (SGPDA) and the Greater Panaji planning & development authority (GPPDA) have kept the ODPs of the planning areas for viewing. The planning bodies have also given a two-month period for the inputs regarding change of land use and zone change.
The two planning bodies had submitted the draft ODP-2031 in September to the town and country planning board, which granted provisional approval for the draft ODP-2031 in October.
The BJP government made a similar move in December 2016, when the SGPDA opened up the Margao and Ponda ODP. The move had invited allegations of corruption and favouritism as it came just months before the 2017 state assembly elections.
Copies of the draft ODP-2031 of the Kadamba Plateau, Margao, Panaji and Ponda planning areas have been kept for inspection at the offices of the SGPDA and NGPDA apart from the offices of the municipal bodies of the respective areas.
The two-month period is expected to end by December-end, while the announcement for the state elections is expected in early January.
“The general public is further hereby informed that this authority shall hear the general public who submit such objections and also who request for being heard in the office of the Greater Panaji planning and development authority with prior notice,” said the NGPDA in a notification.
Incidentally, the present ODP was supposed to have taken care of the planning requirements till 2028, but has been opened up again as per the decision of the state government.
The NGPDA has already notified the ODP 2030 of the Arpora-Nagoa-Parra planning area while in November 2020, the TCP approved the draft outline development (ODP) plan for the Mormugao planning area.
Copies of the draft ODP-2031 of the Kadamba Plateau, Margao, Panaji and Ponda planning areas have been kept for inspection at the offices of the SGPDA and NGPDA apart from the offices of the municipal bodies of the respective areas.
