PANJIM: Congress party is exploring the possibility of moving the court challenging the policy of transferable development rights (TDR) and case to case basis zonal change under Regional Plan 2021, concepts adopted by the BJP-led coalition government for planning purpose in the State.
Addressing media persons on Sunday, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar said that the amendment introduced to the Goa Town and Country Planning Act is against the interest of the State and against the spirit of Regional Plan. “We would like to warn the people not to invest in TDR or for zonal change as both will be challenged in the Court. We are planning to move the Court against the government’s policy decision,” he said while announcing that “once Congress comes to power, both will be withdrawn.”
Chodankar alleged that even before the notification was out, adopting TDR policy and case to case basis zonal changes, booking and money exchange had already commenced. “This is not a case to case basis, but suitcase to suitcase basis changes, which is very dangerous,” he said.
Government earlier this week issued notification for introducing zonal changes in RP. For this purpose, the government had introduced Clause 4 to the TCP Act. Under TDR policy, government will incentivize people who hold their land green and without development and for conservation and preparation of natural and built heritage.
Chodankar said that government has failed to have scientific and inclusive planning process while proposing amendment to the Act. He said that the Act has not taken into account the incorporation of 73rd and 74th amendment of the Constitution, which speaks about people’s participation.
“The new concepts introduced will take Goa backward rather than forward,” he commented.
