Fatorda: As the Chairman of South Goa Planning and Development Authority Renuka Da Silva tendered her resignation from the post, Goa Forward Party Chief Vijai Sardesai said that her tenure reflects the manifesto promises made by the party to the people.
“The tenure of Renuka Da Silva reflects the commitments made by our party during the last assembly election,” Sardesai told reporters listing out various pro-people initiatives taken by SGPDA.
Renuka’s two year tenure which began on June 14, 2017 was marked by the completion and notification of the Outline Development Plan 2028 for Margao, Fatorda and Ponda, construction of retail fish market and land acquisition for Kabrasthan and Town Hall project at Fatorda.
Sardesai said that the ODP which could not be completed during the previous tenure was completed by consultative process and after following all procedures of the government.
He said that in the ODP certain changes were incorporated to protect the city’a architectural and cultural identity. And areas were marked with zone changes to facilitate construction of various projects.
The zone was earmarkedas institutional for a land identified for construction of new St Joaquim Church at Borda. The Goa Tinto Project was also planned to restore various structures like the Camara Municipale de Salcette and upgrading the entire stretch from the old market circle up to the Communidade building in Old Market.
Changes to enable affordable housing were also incorporated in the ODP by granting a special residential zone (200 FAR) to various existing Housing societies to make redevelopment viable for the residents. Additional FAR was given to government land in Pajifond and MMC owned land at Sonsoddo for affordable hosing projects.
In the ODP, the changes were also made to boost economy by creating jobs and making changes to allow projects like an inter state and intra state Bus terminus, community farming hub and tech hub at GSUDA owned land opposite the district collectorate, an SGPDA exhibition ground and a farmer’s market near Presentation High School.
The changes were also made to allow educational institutions to give better quality education by allowing improvement in infrastructure through additional FAR.
SGPDA grounds were earlier given for exhibitions in half. Half for exhibition tents and half for parking. Of late, the whole ground is given to Tents and it has resulted in a mess on the roads all over that area due to non-availability of parking. Also, the road in front of the Inox Theatre is in a mess and neither SGPDA or PWD or MMC cares to fix it. Such eyesores were prevalent during her tenure.