Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has categorically denied any association with the Outline Development Plan (ODP) recently annulled by the High Court, insisting that the scrapped version was not prepared under his leadership.
“The ODP that was struck down by the High Court is not mine,” Lobo asserted during a media interaction. He explained that the draft ODP was framed in 2017 and notified in 2018, when he chaired the planning board and Vijay Sardesai was the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister.
Lobo clarified that he held the position of Leader of the Opposition when the invalidated ODP came into effect and distanced himself from the decisions made thereafter. When asked who was accountable for the flawed plan, Lobo said, “You (the media) should find out,” adding that the process followed after his tenure was questionable.
Defending the ODP developed during his time, Lobo claimed it was legally sound and aimed at the welfare of Calangute and Candolim residents. He suggested that procedural lapses during later revisions to the plan may have triggered the court’s intervention.
“We supported the ODP while in government. Corrections were made later, but if the proper process wasn’t followed, then naturally someone approached the court,” he stated. He also took a swipe at critics for allegedly avoiding naming those actually responsible. “Why is my name being dragged in?” he questioned.
In a separate issue, Lobo criticised the new guidelines for app-based taxi aggregators, holding Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho accountable for the policy. “We will consult all stakeholders before moving forward,” he said, stressing the need for consensus.
He also raised concerns about the financial burden of installing taxi meters, questioning the rationale behind asking operators to pay ₹11,000 for equipment whose use remains unclear. “What are taxi owners supposed to do with these meters now?” he asked.
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