PANJIM: Activists on Thursday held a protest in front of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department at Patto-Panjim against the amendment 39A of the TCP Act.
The protestors accused TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane of enacting dubious amendments. They criticised the hasty introduction of Section 39A in the TCP Act, alleging a backdoor mechanism for ecologically fragile land conversion for private and business gains. It further said that the amendment empowers the chief town planner to alter regional or development plans, raising concerns about potential misuse.
In a memorandum submitted to the TCP Department, the activists claimed that the new section is yet another avenue for bribery, corruption and land conversions.
“‘The insertion of new Section 39A in the Goa Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill 2024 which was introduced in the State Legislative Assembly in February, 2024. This bill, which seeks to amend the TCP Act by inserting Section 39A, goes against all norms of planning in the State. The proposed amendment is essentially a provision that enables the TCP Department, and particularly the TCP Minister to make piecemeal zoning changes to the Regional Plans and the ODPs. This practice is known as spot zoning and is frowned upon by the judiciary, not only in India but worldwide,” they said.
