PANJIM: As many as 12 properties, including six in Morjim village, were changed from orchard to settlement within a month of notifying Section 17 (2) of Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act.
What has surprised Goans is that all the applicants are non-Goans and have questioned how can the experts made such glaring errors at the time of preparing a comprehensive plan?
There is also no sign of California-based city planner Prof Vinayak Bharne to guide the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department as informed by TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane.
Village Groups of Goa member Franky Monteiro said that there cannot be errors in keeping vast areas as Orchards and eco-sensitive zones. “Such errors can happen in densely populated areas where there are houses and developed areas. But what the TCP department has done now is deliberate and land changes have been affected for a premium,” he charged.
According to former chairman of Institute of Architects Tulio D’Souza, this type of 17 (2) of TCP amendment is contrary to the process of planning and against the well laid down norms of city and urban plans as well as Regional Plan.
“The amendment allowing the government to change the land from orchard and cultivable areas to settlement is going to disturb the current plan and safeguards to protect the green areas, hilly slopes and all other eco-sensitive areas,” D’Souza said.
Such a process by the government without consultations with stakeholders is going to destroy the identity of the State and put Goa on sale, he said.
“Is the 17 (2) amendment in public interest?” asked social activist Solano D’Silva from Pilerne. “All those who made applications to change land were outsiders and big promoters. If we scrutinise these applications we find that there are no Goans. Also the Task Force had declined the applications because it was not as per the criteria,” he said.
“Where is city planner Vinayak Bharne, who was supposed to guide TCP on the development plan as per TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane? Why is the TCP Minister silent on Prof Bharne? D’Silva asked.
D’Silva also pointed out that there are no experts on the committee constituted by the TCP and those having interest in tourism and real estate and not public interest have been appointed as members of the expert committee.
Activist Zarina D’Cunha said by bringing the 17 (20 amendment, the government had reduced all laid down regulation to a mockery. The Regional Plan was prepared by eminent persons and experts and how can the government realise the errors 10 years later?”