Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Mar 27: The Directorate of Panchayats Goa has issued a memorandum to Block Development Officers (BDOs), directing village panchayats to prepare annual development plans in line with spatial planning provisions under Section 238 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act 1994.

The move follows the incorporation of spatial planning into the Act, aligned with the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. Citizens had earlier urged the chief secretary to initiate the process of preparing annual development plans across the state.

Acting on a representation from Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA), the director of panchayats has instructed BDOs to notify village panchayats within 30 days and submit compliance reports.

GBA members also met officials, including the director and deputy director of panchayats, seeking training programmes to equip local bodies for preparing the plans. Once prepared, the plans will be forwarded to the zilla parishad, then to the district planning committee, and subsequently consolidated into the state-level development plan.

GBA convenor Sabina Martins urged citizens to actively participate in the planning process to ensure sustainable development. She added that GBA would monitor the implementation and take necessary steps to ensure participatory planning is effectively carried out.