28 May 2023  |   06:37am IST

‘Proposed TCP Amendments will allow influential few to exploit Goa’s eco-sensitive land resources’

While picking apart the destructive land changes, Bharat Mukti Morcha raises questions about the intention behind these amendments, as the identity of the ‘sources’ is not revealed in TCP records; warns of a politically-connected ‘builders mafia’ operating to seize Goa’s farmlands

Team Herald

MARGAO: The Goa unit of Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM) has criticized Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the Town and Country Planning Department (TCP), former TCP Minister Chandrakant Babu Kavlekar, the Steering Committee, the builder lobby, and all those involved in proposing TCP amendments, which BMM strongly opposes.

BMM has also raised questions about how the Panchayat Minister and the Director of Panchayats gained access to the sub-committee responsible for assessing the validity of objections sent by citizens.

“As it stands today, the degeneration of Panchayati Raj in Goa is taking place under the active supervision of the Panchayat Minister and the Panchayat Director. They have effectively sabotaged the Gram Panchayat Development Plan. Now both of them have joined the TCP sub-committee. 

We can only imagine the disaster that awaits us. In all probability, most, if not all, objections are likely to be dismissed even before reaching the Steering Committee, at the level of the sub-committee itself,” said Sebastian Rodrigues of BMM.

“Babu Kavlekar, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Goa, is documented as the one who pushed for the legalization of existing unauthorized structures larger than 500 square metres. He has openly advocated for the case of affluent individuals who have encroached on land. We can imagine the extent to which he has been favored, both financially and otherwise, by wealthy politically connected individuals who have confidently constructed more than 500 square metres of unauthorized buildings,” added Rodrigues.

“The proposed amendment to allow unlimited sub-division of agricultural land originates from an undisclosed source. The records state 'the Committee was informed.' Who informed them? The identity of the informer is concealed in the records. In 2019, the sub-division of agricultural land was restricted, and now the proposed amendment seeks to remove this restriction,” stated Rodrigues.

“Another undisclosed source has proposed an amendment to allow farmhouses in rice fields, excluding low-lying fields. The records mention ‘the Committee was appraised.’ Who appraised the committee? The records are filled with uncertainties,” Rodrigues added.

“The Steering Committee was similarly informed about the creation of large farmhouses measuring 1,000 square metres. Who informed them again? Clearly, this is a mafia operation aiming to seize Goa's farmland. Regardless of whether other Indian states have similar provisions, the fact that the identity of the informer is kept secret indicates the malicious intent behind this proposed amendment,” said Rodrigues.

“There are also amendments pertaining to the reduction of road widths for multi-family housing projects. According to the proposed amendments, roads with a width of less than eight metres can accommodate 180 housing units. These amendments have dubious origins, as the records indicate ‘someone informed the Committee.’ Who is this someone? Why is their identity concealed? An eight-metre road would need to allocate half-metre shoulders and half-metre gutters on each side, as per the specifications of Goa TCP. This leaves a six-metre right of way to accommodate 180 housing units,” stated BMM.