After long deliberations on the Regional Plan (RP) for four coastal talukas in Goa, the State Government has finally completed the process of land use plans pertaining to the entire State.
The land use plans for coastal talukas — Bardez, Tiswadi, Salcette and Mormugao — were finalised by the Town and Country Planning Board headed by the Goa Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat.
The Board officials held four-hour-long discussions on Wednesday before approving the RP, which will decide the future of the coastal belt, the backbone for the State's tourism industry.
environmentalists
The RP will decide the land use pattern across the State and is expected to save Goa being robbed of its greenery. Several environmentalists, however, have already expressed their apprehensions over these plans.
Mr Kamat told PTI that the task of completing the RP for all talukas would have been completed by June 2011 but the process was delayed as special care was needed to be taken while finalising these four talukas.
Coastal areas
The coastal talukas in the State are already facing the brunt of increasing development activity which is related to tourism.
Senior town planner, Mr S. Putturaju said the RPs aim to check the unplanned activity in this belt.
“The entire stretch already has enough hotel and other tourism development projects,” Mr Putturaju said, adding that only one eco-tourism zone has been approved in all four talukas.
The eco-tourism zone is approved in Cavelossim village of Salcette taluka, which is a hub of tourism activity.