Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) on Monday demanded that the Chief Minister should act ethically against the Chief Secretary (CS) and the Chief Town Planner and immediately suspend them for violation of code of conduct and using amendment 17(2) of TCP Act for legalisation of an illegal construction on property of Survey No. 36/1 at Aldona, Bardez.
The GBA has also demanded a CBI investigation into their blatant corrupt actions and investigations into self-serving beneficiaries of other conversions under the flawed amendment 17(2) of the TCP Act. It further demanded suspension of the operation of amendment 17(2) till such an investigation had reached its conclusion.
GBA convenor Sabina Martins told mediapersons that “keeping erring officers in position will allow them to destroy evidence, given their access to critical documents and incriminating data. It does not bode well for Goa and it will be a dangerous signal to all citizens to do as they please with no consequence of the law”.
The GBA had sought an appointment with the Chief Minister regarding the same from September 19 and had not received any response despite reminders, said Martins.
Amendment 17(2) of the TCP Act for correction of supposed ‘errors’ in the Regional Plan has been placed before the High Court and was sub-judice, for reasons of opacity and bypassing of check mechanisms, allowing for corruption in office. In a worst case of abuse of power, the Chief Secretary took advantage of this.
In March 2024, application of ‘correction’ under 17(2), of 1,875sqmts of area was passed by the TCP Board to be converted to settlement. This was marked as paddy field in the Regional Plan.Illegal construction had already taken place on the same plot which the TCP Department was fully aware of, prior to the notification. The CTP had powers to use his position to veto any irregular recommendations of the board, but he did not use it.