PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday stayed the letter dated December 16, 2016, issued by Town and Country Planning Department that put in operation the draft outline development plan (ODP) Calangute-Candolim 2025.
Through a petition, Dimian Teles and 10 other residents of Candolim had challenged the letter of the Goa government putting in operation the draft outline development plan Calangute-Candolim 2025. The petitioners contended that the letter was issued without deciding objections and without issuing a notification and hence pleaded to grant a stay till the disposal of the petition.
The Court admitted the petition and asked the State to file a reply within two weeks and scheduled the final hearing after four weeks.
The petitioners submitted that the move of the NGPDA (North Goa Planning and Development Authority) is to facilitate certain individuals and to fool the people of Candolim and Calangute. The government passed the order in December, just before the Assembly elections but this was not notified. Further, the government did not even inform the High Court about the notification, in its affidavit filed in the petition filed by Calangute panchayat challenging the draft ODP, the petitioners said.
The petitioners also pleaded with the court to issue an appropriate writ, in the nature of mandamus directing TCP, NGPDA, Panchayat to comply with article 243G and section 238 and 239 of Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and prepare the development plan of village panchayat Candolim under such provisions.
