The Hindu : Karnataka News : Pilot project to develop municipal areas in Goa

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Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Pilot project to develop municipal areas in Goa

Special Correspondent

It will be a ‘dry test’ for the State Regional Plan 2021

It will empower people through local self-governance
Project expected to be ready by April 2008

PANAJI: Goa is all set to undertake a pilot project to chalk out a model development plan for six villages and three municipal areas of the State.

The objective of the project, as envisaged by Goa Task Force presently working on Goa Regional Plan 2021, is to evolve a democratic process that will emphasise on empowerment of people through local self-governance as embodied in the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution.

Task force

The Goa Task Force is an advisory body of different stakeholders and experts, set up by the Government of Goa to prepare the State Regional Plan through a transparent process of consultations and participation of the people.

Headed by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, the task force comprises town planners, architects, developers, environmentalists, and other stakeholders in development.

Vice-president of the task force architect Charles Correa explained recently that the pilot project, considered to be first of its kind in the country in the area of land use planning of a State, would involve a comprehensive consultative, transparent, and participative process.

A base

“The pilot project involving village panchayat bodies and municipal bodies is expected to be ready by April 2008, and it will be eventually integrated into and used as a base for the State Regional Plan 2021,” says Adviser to Goa Government on land utilisation and planning Edgar Rebeiro.

Mr. Correa said the pilot project “would work as a dry test” for the State Regional Plan 2021 and added that even a budgetary allocation had been made for it.

Settlement

Mr. Rebeiro said the plan for the pilot project would be concerned with the settlement of the people in the respective areas, their involvement in addressing certain constraints they could face while planning projects like a highway or a rail line passing through the respective areas.

“The idea is to replicate the experience here in to other villages and urban areas of not only the State but could prove useful for other States in the country,” said Mr. Rebeiro.

‘Important movement’

Drawing on his wide experience in town planning as a former Town Planner of Delhi, Mr. Rebeiro went on to say,

“This is an important movement for planning, not only for Goa but as a role model for the country.”

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