News Articles
Zone changes in Margao ODPIs buildersâ lobby responsible?
BY HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, FEB 12 â The ill-effects of haphazard planning have returned to haunt the Town and Country Planning Department.
Reports say that according to the Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Margao, a tenanted paddy field has been converted into a settlement zone.
Large-scale zone changes â from settlement to commercial and central commercial -- have been effected in the ODP.
Whatâs more, hectic moves are on to shelve the âtruck terminusâ, proposed in the draft-ODP, in the paddy fields along Ring Road â between Aquem junction (near Power House) and the railway tracks at Ravanfond bridge.
Inquiries revealed that the PDA mooted a 10-mt wide road at Dovondem, leading to the low-lying tenanted paddy fields, raising eyebrows whether the PDA can convert a tenanted field into a settlement zone.
A PDA official, declining to comment further, said that the changes adopted with regards to the Dovondem field were effected based on the Planning Boardâs orders.
Interestingly, sources said the decision to scrap the proposed truck terminus came following instructions issued by the office of the Chief Town Planner. It is also learnt that the buildersâ lobby approached the powers that be.
Sources revealed that the TCP reportedly issued a letter to the office of SGPDA Member Secretary A Diniz asking it (office) to shelve the truck terminus on grounds that acquisition of land for the project at the present site would be an expensive affair.
