PANJIM: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Sunday charged that the Goa government was functioning on the donations of the private builders and has crossed all limits of corruption.
GPCC Spokesperson Tulio de Souza pointing to a newspaper notification said that the TCP department on January 1, 2019 issued draft Building Regulation, which seems to be a kind of a joke.
“Firstly, the department has allowed height of upto 60 meters which is just not feasible in the State of Goa,” de Sousa said.
He said that the fire department just does not have the facilities and equipments in case of emergency.
“The best part is in the notification itself: the TCP has said if the projects fail to get Fire department approval, they may donate necessary equipment, which can be considered as an exemption,” stated de Sousa.
The GPCC executive committee member has lodged an objection before the Chief Town planner over the above mentioned Draft Regulation, provide for a shopping mall cum multiplex in a commercial special (CS) zone.
“On perusal of this clause it is further understood that 33 per cent of the plinth area of such project, which is spread over an area of 10,000 sq mt, would go upto a height of 60 meters. The amendments seem to be highly motivated and does not take into consideration the hazards and life safety in buildings,” the objection reads as.
He said that this is contradictory to principal Regulations 4.4.2 as by allowing a height of 60 meters it will lead to unsustainable development, inadequate basic necessities such as water, electricity and garbage disposal system.
“The regulations also seem to be interfering with the ‘Goa Fire Force Act, 1986’ and Rules thereof and the minimum standards as mandated in the National Building Code 2016,” he adds.
The Congress also objected to bringing down area for development in non-settlement / agricultural area to 1000 sq mt under clause 18 Annexure XI A.
“These will allow such developments to be exempted from Land Revenue Code 1968 for conversion, which now is one acre,” the letter says adding, “This will lead to widespread construction in agricultural area.”
