Panaji: The Goa Government on Thursday said it was not in favour of scrapping the controversial Regional Plan 2021 though it is willing to make genuine corrections in the blueprint.
The development is viewed as a major deviation from the promise the BJP had made in its electoral manifesto during 2012 Assembly polls. Scrapping of the Regional Plan 2021 (RP) was the main plank based on which the saffron party stormed to power defeating the Congress.
Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza replied in negative on the floor of House to a question by Congress Legislator Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco whether the government intended to withdraw the Plan.
"The Regional Plan for Goa 2021 is for the purpose of regulating development in the State of Goa with a horizon period upto 2021," reads the reply tabled on the floor of the House.
Refusing to scrap the plan, D'Souza said government intended to take up genuine corrections/rectification in Plan.
The Plan had drawn flak for keeping people out of the planning process and for using inaccurate information and data.
BJP's poll promise on scrapping the Plan had also mirrored in then Governor K Sankaranarayanan's address to the Budget session of the Legislative Assembly on March 19, 2012.
"My government will denotify the Regional Plan 2021 and formulate one in due consultation with all stake-holders," he had said.
Then chief minister Manohar Parrikar, currently Defence Minister, had also reiterated the Governor's observation.
"The government's stand on RP is clearly mentioned in the Governor's address to the Assembly. The Governor's speech is the official document, whatever has been said there will happen, but it will take some time to be executed," Parrikar had said.
