PORVORIM: Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar has decided to review all the approvals granted for zone change under Section 16B of the TCP Act.
Kavlekar, who holds the TCP portfolio, on Thursday assured the Legislative Assembly that he will review and study all the approvals granted under Sec 16B. He said that during the recent meeting held on July 10, the TCP Board granted final approval to 30 applicants for zone change.
Kavlekar expressed surprise that of the 5,360 applications received for zone change, only 233 were granted provisional approvals and of these 30 received final approval. “This is something surprising. There are over 3,800 applications for change in zone of less than 500 sq meters. I don’t understand the reason, why these people were not given priority. These are small cases,” he said.
He said that of the 5,360 applications received, 3,805 were within 500 sq mtrs area, 485 applications were between 501 sq mtrs and 1,000 sq mtrs and 1,060 applications were for areas above 1000 sq mtrs.
“I will need some time to study the section. I have taken over just a week back and need time to understand. I will review all the permissions granted,” Kavlekar said.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, too, was of the opinion, that a review of the approvals needs to be done.
The assurance came in response to a question tabled by BJP MLA Wilfred D’Sa, who sought to know the number of approvals granted under section 16B and whether there is any sub-committee to conduct inspections, before granting permission.
Kavlekar said that no sub-committee was formed but once the application comes before the Board, the technical section of the TCP department conducts a survey and seeks consent from the concerned departments like Forest, Agriculture, etc, before granting provisional approval.
Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat cautioned the government that the 30 applicants who have got final approval may go to court, if their permissions are withheld.
