Latest news with #RegionalPlan2021
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Goa minister says 17 lakh square metres underwent land use correction, Opp slams ‘destruction of agri land'
Goa's Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vishwajit Rane on Thursday said the TCP department granted approval to 'correct' land use of over 17 lakh square metres of land under section 17(2) of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act, 1974. Section 17 (2) was introduced through an amendment to the TCP Act and notified in March 2023. The controversial section allows the correction of privately owned plots in Goa's Regional Plan 2021, based on individual applications from such parties to 'correct inadvertent errors' or 'rectify inconsistent or incoherent zoning'. The section was read down by the High Court of Bombay at Goa in March. The state government has subsequently challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court. During Question Hour in the Assembly, Rane said that no cultivable land has been converted under the provisions of the TCP Act. Rane said the TCP department received 950 applications for land use zone changes under section 39A of TCP Act. Section 39A, notified in 2024, empowers the chief town planner to alter the regional plan and/or the outline development plan to carry out zone change of land after 30 days' public notice. 'Out of those, 200 applications were considered and 35 notified and a total of 2.7 lakh square metres land use was corrected under section 39A of TCP Act,' Rane said. Congress's Yuri Alemao, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said, 'A deeply troubling picture of systematic destruction of Goa's agricultural land, all pushed through in the name of 'zone correction' under section 17(2) of the TCP Act, is seen. I want to ask the government whether it will bring a new regional plan.' Alemao said the provision was brought for Goans who owned little land and whose land was wrongly zoned. 'The data, however, shows that land (being corrected) is neither small, nor is it for Goans. Why is the department allowing large scale conversion of paddy fields and orchard land? People are worried about their lands being alienated. The 'Sharmas and Vermas' are buying second homes here. There are concerns about the carrying capacity of villages,' Alemao said. Rane, however, said, 'We are not converting any land under section 17(2). It is correction.' The Indian Express had reported in September 2024 that two state ministers, politicians from across party lines, and several real estate companies in Goa are alleged beneficiaries of the change in land use under section 17(2) of the TCP Act. According to the Express investigation, the TCP department approved a change in land use for at least 20 lakh square metres of land from March 2023 to August 2024, converting 'green zones' into 'settlements' — allowing construction activity for both residential and commercial purposes, pushing up the land's value manifold.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
St Andre MLA for inquiry against errant TCP officials
Porvorim: St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar on Thursday demanded a vigilance inquiry against TCP officials who arbitrarily grant development permissions and approve plans submitted by project proponents without conducting any site inspections. In response, TCP minister Vishwajit Rane said Borkar should file complaints if such cases exist. Chief minister Pramod Sawant, meanwhile, said that if a project proponent threatens to demolish local houses, action would be taken. Stating that 11 plots were created in a village in his constituency, Borkar asked whether TCP officials had inspected the site before granting permissions for the subdivision of plots and construction of a compound wall, among others. Rane said that before granting permission, the department inspects sites according to a checklist. 'The land was shown as settlement zone in Regional Plan 2021,' the minister said. Borkar said the property was purchased by a person from Delhi and asked whether the existing road had been demarcated therein. 'The road was 3m wide and there is a well there. Now, the well has been covered by a compound wall. We seek that the road and the well be removed from the ambit of the project,' Borkar said. He further told the House that although the road has existed for the last 40 years, it does not reflect in the regional plan. 'A lot of people from the Bahujan Samaj reside there. The owner (of the property) complained to the PWD that the road is illegal. He has also been threatening that he will not allow the road,' Borkar said. The MLA questioned whether the TCP department would consequently revoke permission for the road. In response, Rane said that technically, permissions are facilitated according to the law. 'We will write to the PWD and ask it to notify the road,' the minister said. When Borkar said, 'Delhi people take locals to the police station and threaten to demolish local houses,' Sawant intervened and said govt is here to save local dwellings. 'You lodge a complaint. Such things will not be tolerated, and action will be taken against such a person,' the CM told Borkar. He also said that the road and the well in the property has been removed from the ambit of the plan. Mayem MLA Premendra Shet asked whether TCP officials conduct site inspections of controversial projects. Rane said that he has instructed his department that inspections must be conducted and photos of the exercise must be kept on record. _______________________________________ State plans law to thwart illegal plotting Porvorim: TCP minister Vishwajit Rane on Thursday said govt will bring in a new law before the next assembly session to stop illegal plotting on orchard and other lands. Opposition leader Yuri Alemao said 1,000 complaints of hill-cutting were received. 'How many people have been prosecuted? These cases come under the TCP, revenue and home departments,' Alemao said. Listing out survey numbers, he said 50 illegal constructions have come up on those lands. He said plots are being developed without open spaces, and some have even come up in orchard, paddy and cultivable lands. 'I charge that your department is hand-in-glove with illegal plotting. Will you revert these areas to their original state?' Alemao asked. Rane admitted that illegal plotting is taking place, and that the department must act quickly. He said former TCP minister Vijai Sardesai had introduced Section 49 to the TCP Act to tackle illegal plotting, but people were still troubling govt. Sardesai said if govt implemented the section, illegal plotting would stop. TNN Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Oppn leader demands white paper on land conversions
Porvorim: Opposition leader Yuri Alemao on Thursday demanded that town and country planning minister Vishwajit Rane table a white paper detailing the total land that has been converted under Sections 16(b), 17(2), and 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act. While promising to answer the opposition's queries, Rane said that during his tenure, 16-17 lakh sqm of land has been converted, compared to 9.5 crore sqm under the Regional Plan 2021 and 1.5 crore sqm in the year before he became the TCP minister. 'I will answer all questions on Aug 7 in the House. To the extent that I can give answers, I will provide them,' Rane said. 'The leader of the opposition has asked for a white paper, I will give him the numbers.' Alemao accused Rane of permitting the conversion of eco-sensitive lands for settlement, which would cause irreversible damage to the environment. Alemao demanded a freeze on large residential colonies in villages. 'In 12 years, BJP has done enough damage. Zoning changes are done to benefit the influential and the common Goans are kept in the dark,' Alemao said. 'We need a white paper on all the conversions.' He said that land conversions and large housing projects have caused stress to villages, roads, and water and electricity supply. 'No scientific study was carried out to determine the carrying capacity of Goa, of its towns and villages. The TCP Act was formulated for structured and regulated growth,' Alemao said.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Setback to state as Supreme Court declines relief to Goa govt on TCP's Sec 17(2), ODPs
Panaji: In a major setback to state govt, Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant relief to the town and country planning (TCP) department, which had sought a stay on a high court judgment concerning the Section 17(2) matter and the two outline development plans (ODPs) of Calangute-Candolim and Arpora-Nagoa-Parra. Supreme Court In March, the high court struck down the rules and guidelines of the controversial Section 17(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1974, in the 'public interest'. State govt challenged the order in the Supreme Court. In June, the high court set aside govt's ODPs for five villages and directed the state to follow Regional Plan 2021 for the approval of plans and the grant of permissions in these villages. The two ODPs — Calangute-Candolim and Arpora-Nagoa-Parra — cannot operate, and the five villages of Calangute, Candolim, Arpora, Nagoa, and Parra will not be governed by them, a division bench comprising justices Bharati Dangre and Nivedita Mehta ruled. Supreme Court bench comprising justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice on the special leave petitions filed by state govt and the TCP department but proceeded to order a 'status quo' to be maintained, said Goa Foundation director Claude Alvares. 'This in effect means that all construction activities connected with the subject matters of the two judgments — and now subject matter of the appeals filed by the state — would have to remain at a standstill till the apex court disposes of the appeals,' he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ranked: The 25 Best Cities To Live In The World Learn More Undo Former Odisha high court chief justice, senior advocate S Murlidhar and senior advocate Shoeb Alam appeared for Goa Foundation in the two Section 17(2) appeals filed by Goa govt and TCP. Alvares said that the court has fixed the matter for Aug 26. 'There are more than 60 respondents in the three SLPs filed by the state and TCP, since the high court judgments were passed in a batch of writ petitions and PILs, including the PILs filed by Goa Foundation,' he said.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Cong slams IPB nod for resort, parking lot in ESZ at Reis Magos
Panaji: Congress has opposed the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board's decision to permit Spark Healthline Pvt Ltd to set up a resort and a multi-storeyed parking lot at Reis Magos. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The party said that the land falls under an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) as per the Regional Plan 2021. The criticism comes after govt ratified the Goa IPB's notification of a 31,280sqm land parcel as an investment promotion area. The state Congress has accused govt of going against the wishes of local residents and ignoring gram sabha resolutions passed during the previous year. 'There's no plan for the contract given to these private players. There's no transparency on how projects are getting approved and who is approving them. Govt is scamming the villagers,' said Tulio DeSouza. Congress also accused chief minister Pramod Sawant of destroying eco-sensitive zones and areas falling under the CRZ under RP 2021, making false promises to the residents about providing employment.
