PANAJI: The North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) has given additional time till July 25 for stakeholders to provide feedback and objections about the draft Downtown Mapusa (Phase I) plan. The decision was taken in the board meeting held earlier this week.
The development of 11 lakh sqm under the Downtown Mapusa (Phase I) plan has been in the works since July 2015, when Laxmikant Parsekar was chief minister.
The NGPDA had earmarked the 11 lakh sqm area for a market, parking facilities, Ravindra Bhavan, a warehouse, an interstate bus stand, a community hall, and a joggers’ park as well as for govt offices, ring roads, and exhibition centres.
In mid-March, the NGPDA had put the draft scheme in the public domain for scrutiny and had given a two-month period for feedback. The draft plan is available for public scrutiny at the office of the Mapusa Municipal Council, village panchayats of Verla-Canca and Guirim, and the NGPDA office.
The authority had initially chosen certain areas in Mapusa for the implementation of the ‘Town Planning Scheme’ as part of the Outline Development Plan-2021, which included Camarkhazan and Gaunsawada in Phase II of the Downtown Mapusa plan.
However, plans for Phase II, which would have seen 7 lakh sqm of khazan land being developed, were dropped due to strong objections.
Also, the authority, which functions under the Uttar Pradesh government, has given time till August 31 to developer ATS Realty and Greenbay Infrastructure till July 31 to clear their dues.
