Vijai gives ‘clarity’, says Regional Plan 2021 is operational

PORVORIM: In an attempt to allay uncertainties over Regional Plan 2021, town and country planning minister Vijai Sardesai on Wednesday said RP 2021 was operational and that adequate “checks and balances” were in place to prevent misuse.

“For the clarity of everyone, RP 2021 is operationalised,” Sardesai said. “There is a demand for one state, one plan. Today, with clarity, I declare the one plan is RP 2021.”

Speaking just before Sardesai, opposition leader and Congress Quepem MLA Chandrakant Kavlekar urged the government to take a final decision on a land use plan for the state.

“Goa needs planned department and if we want planned development, we need to put certain things in place. And if we want planned development, we need to have a fixed stand,” Sardesai said.

The minister said individuals who were “aggrieved” with RP 2021 could approach the department and the issue would be taken up on a case-to-case basis.

Speaking on the hue and cry raised by activists and MLAs on planning and development authorities (PDA), Sardesai blamed Congress legislators for misguiding citizens about PDAs in the state.

He also stated that the Greater Panaji planning and development authority would be notified in the coming weeks. “Greater Panaji PDA includes the planning areas of Bambolim, Taleigao, and the Kadamba plateau, which is only a thin strip of 150 metres of each side of the Kadamba bypass. I will send this to the law department and get it notified soon,” Sardesai said.

He also said a final decision on the outline development plan for several areas would be taken on August 16.

Acknowledging that the TCP department had noticed several instances where stilt parking zones were converted into commercial spaces, the minister said the department planned to conduct post-occupancy audits and that it was even willing to frame rules to ensure such audits were conducted.

Sardesai also announced that the department wanted to promote environment-friendly construction practices and that incentives, such as the waiver of infrastructure tax, could be offered to builders adhering to green building norms.