Team Herald
PANJIM: In a major development, the State government has decided to scrap 6,200 provisional approvals granted for zone change under controversial Section 16B of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act. Another 1,000 applications that had received either provisional or final approvals are placed under scrutiny.
Speaking to mediapersons, TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane said that the government will abide by the High Court decision, who is currently hearing the petitions challenging validity of Section 16B. The matter is likely to come up for further hearing before the Division Bench of Bombay High Court at Goa on July 26-27.
Rane also said that then government’s decision in 2012 to keep Regional Plan 2021 in abeyance was “technically wrong” and led to introduction of 16B for zonal change.
“Technically it was wrong to keep RP in abeyance …u cannot keep in abeyance unless the notification is issued stating to keep in abeyance…it was done through administrative order…we lost three years…now we need 16B till new RP process is completed,” Rane said.
“We have taken a decision to scrap 6,200 provisional approvals given under 16B. Another 1,000 applications are under scanner and the decision will be taken in that regard soon. We might scrap these approvals also,” he said adding ‘I am not in love with 16B…it is not my lifeline’.
Rane said, “The government is ready to initiate fresh process under Section 16B if the Court permits.”
The Minister said, “The department will initiate process to draft zoning plans before going ahead with Regional Plan 2031.”
“All the stakeholders will be taken into confidence,” he said.
Former minister Vijai Sardesai in 2018 had introduced amendment to the TCP Act to insert Section 16B for zonal changes.
Meanwhile, Rane announced to bring in State Farmhouse Policy, wherein the locals will be allowed to construct farms in their own lands while maintaining the greenery.
