PANJIM: The State government on Tuesday notified the additional 20 percent floor area ratio (FAR) to four and five star hotels and educational institutions. However, hotels in areas of eco-tourism and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) will not get this benefit.
Chief Town Planner Dr S T Putturaju in the notification signed on Tuesday also approved permitting structures on agricultural, cultivable and orchard lands for the purpose of ‘promoting agricultural activities’.
Speaking to Herald, Putturaju confirmed notifying the draft regulations made under sub-section (1) and (2) of the Goa (Regulation of Land Development and Building Construction) Act, 2008. He said that final notification has been issued after considering all the suggestions and recommendations in regards to the amendment.
Regulation 6A of the Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulation has been amended to grant the additional FAR of 20 percent which will be applicable to existing hotels or hotels under construction or new proposals of four or five star category. The hotels will have to submit a detailed plan pertaining to infrastructure to be made available such as sewerage treatment plant, solid waste disposal details by taking into consideration additional area being added.
However, hotels in eco-tourism and CRZ areas are exempted from this amendment.
We have no authority to take any decision in regard to such hotels. They are governed by different rules and regulations,” Putturaju said.
The amendment also provides an additional FAR of 20 percent to educational institutions recognized by the Education department, Goa University, University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Institute of Technical Education.
“Educational institutions in Goa are mainly run by private managements. The cost of land and related building infrastructure is making it financially prohibitive for future expansion and new construction. Hence, the government has decided to grant special dispensation to institutions by way of further increasing FRA,” the Budget 2015-16 had promised.
Government has also allowed relaxation for construction, re-construction or repair of houses belonging to tribal people under the Atal Asra Yojna, for the welfare of the tribal people.
