Panaji, Jan 18 (TOI): With the deadline for submission of suggestions and objections to RP 2021 ending on January 18, 2016, frantic activity was seen in many panchayats on Sunday to muster opposition to the plan or submit suggestions amidst confusion among stakeholders.

The town and country planning (TCP) department had extended the deadline till January 18, 2016, while activists and NGOs issued conflicting statements either demanding scrapping the plan in totality for a new one or keeping it in abeyance till suitable corrections are made.

But despite a contradictory stand among activists and NGOs, a consensus appears to be emerging among them over a moratorium on future activity related to planning for the development.

"The government should not touch RP 2021 till proper guidelines are framed and the methodology is decided by suitably amending TCP act to revise it," Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) convenor Sabina Martins said.

Agreed Abhijeet Prabhudesai of Goans for Sustainable Development. "Most of the people and panchayats are demanding a moratorium on all constructions, except single dwellings until a new plan is prepared as per their aspirations," he said.

The draft RP 2021 prepared by the task force had incorporated substantial data while earmarking more than 70% of Goa's geographical areas as eco sensitive zone.
The state is facing severe pressure on its land resources and natural assets for development of tourism and housing. "We cannot go ahead till the data is properly produced for comprehensive planning," Prabhudesai said.
The state government had not framed any guidelines despite an earlier assurance. "It is not clear what procedure will be followed after inviting suggestions," Martins said.

Chief town planner, TCP, S Puttaraju said the government will now take a decision on this issue after receiving the inputs, but declined to comment further.

More than 2,000 submissions had been received halfway through the period for suggestions and a large chunk of them are for change in land use that could impact the state's environment, sources said.
Environmental activists are critical about the issue of ordinances and passing of bills to bypass the RP 2021. "If the government is gifting away prime land for development bypassing the plan, why do we need a plan?", president of Village Group of Goa (VGG), Zarina da Cunha said.

A few activists tried, in a last ditch attempt, to explain technical details of RP 2021 to stakeholders. Many villagers presented objections and suggestions they had submitted during the earlier attempts to revise draft RP in 2009 and 2011. But sources said many panchayat bodies have not initiated the process to study the plan for corrections due to various factors, including lack of technical expertise.
Activists and NGOs questioned the reopening of RP without guidelines. "Does this deadline have the sanctity of any law, regulation or guidelines?" da Cunha said.

As per town and country planning (TCP) department guidelines, a period of at least 60 days should be allowed. "In this case, it was a month and an extension of 18 days," she said.