GBA checks for flaws in RP2021 as I-T raids open a can of worms

 TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: Goa Bachao Abhiyan has come out with a list of controversial properties and their status in the final Regional Plan 2021, in an attempt to verify whether promises of land conversions made during RP 2011 were honoured even in the RP 2021.

Their research has thrown up a mixed bag. “The income tax raids revealed certain land deals for conversion. GBA has done a quick check of the status of the survey numbers of land in the final RP 2021,” a statement released by the GBA claimed. 

According to the GBA research, Adarsh Realty from Bangalore owns land in Majorda bearing survey numbers 66, 69, 71 and 76 out of which the first three survey numbers are fields and are also indicated as such. In the Final RP2021 S.No 76 admeasuring 20500 is shown as settlement. Of this land 17,275 sqm is shown as garden in Forms I and XIV.

The same Adarsh Realty owns 72, 000 sqm land in Cavelossim survey no 134 admeasures 181,225 sqm, out of which 140,425 sqm is garden and 40,050 sqm is shown as rice field. The final RP 2021 states that conversion of the rice field is subject to the approval of Directorate of Agriculture. As such, till date no conversion has been given.

In Varca survey no 205,206,212 and 213 are owned by Adarsh Realty admeasuring 82,000 sqm. The survey nos. 205, 206 and 212 are marked as settlement in Final RP 2021 and 213 is shown as rice field.  In survey number 212 there is 40,350 sqm of rice field and in survey no 205 there is 4256 sqm of rice field. Conversion of these rice fields requires the prior approval of Directorate of Agriculture. “This needs to be investigated,” the statement reads.

One Hirachand Bafna has been named as owning land admeasuring 2,11,300 sqm in survey number 189/1. The national highway passes through this area. The final RP shows a strip of settlement adjacent to the highway and another strip adjacent to survey number 187. The major portion of the land is orchard in RP 2021.

Survey number 194/1 owned by Annant Vishnu Naik and 3 others was bought by Sadique Shaik and transferred to Good Earth Developers. The land admeasuring 2,37,025 sqm is shown as settlement area. Incidentaly,  this area which near BITS Pillani Sancoale campus is part of the Mormugao PDA.

GBA has been demanding that the ODP areas also follow the No Development Zones for steep slopes and all eco-sensitive zones. The procedure followed by Mormugao PDA needs to be investigated.

Sabina Martins convenor of the GBA has said that they were in the process of checking out the land records and status in RP2021 of properties named by IT authorities.

“Many suggestions that have been submitted to TCP dept as part of corrections to RP 2021 are requests for conversion of zones to settlement. GBA requests the people of Goa to check the zone status in their neighborhood,” Sabina stated.