Regional Plan: No movement from bottom to top

BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: It appears the crucial ‘Bottom-up approach’ to frame Regional Plan 2021 is in slow motion. As the D-day, April 15 nears, the Taluka Level Technical Team (TLTT) is yet to submit the plans to the Town and Country Planning Department (TCP).

Simply because, they in turn, are yet to receive the plans from the panchayats. So, can the slow and steady win the race?

In an effort to involve people in shaping the destiny of their own state vis-a-vis the planning aspect, copies of Draft Regional Plan 2021 (DRP 2021) were submitted to panchayats through the TLTT. Among others, the TLTT comprises of BDO who is equivalent to the nodal officer of this Team.

In addition, the Town and Country Planning official of the respective taluka also finds place in the Team apart from the Health officer, etc.
“The panchayats have to hold a Gram Sabha for approving the DRP 2021,” says Senior Town

Planner ST Puttaraju. The importance of the TLTT can be guaged by the fact that it has been embedded with almost all powers like control, directions, issuing the kit and inspections.
The kit is distributed through the BDO and it is the BDO -- heading the TLTT in his respective area -- who forwards the plan to the Town and Country Planning Department (TCP).
“Until now, we have not received any plans. All (panchayats) are conducting meetings,” Puttaraju tells GT.

Easing matters further and making the procedure more user-friendly, TCP has opened a ‘Facilitation Centre’ at Maquinez Palace, Panjim. Here, respective officials of panchayats and elected representatives at the grassroot level take appointments to understand their participation in the planning process.

“Members of the Committees, panchayats hold discussions with the officials to understand the system,” claims Puttaraju.

What people at the grassroot level want, by and large, gets reflected in the plan. For instance, until now, the main objections revolve around fields, which have reflected as settlement areas in DRP 2021. People want this to change, to revert back to the status-quo.

In other words, it means villagers want to maintain the fields in their respective villages and abhor them being marked as settlement areas. Many others fear the networking of roads working to the detriment of the village.

“Many feel the roads marked on the plan are new roads. Such roads have existed for many years. Existing roads will be maintained. In case of any planned development (constructions), the necessary setback will have to be maintained,” adds Puttaraju.