Team Herald
PANJIM: The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department has rescinded the correction/rectification of the zone carried under section 17 (2) of TCP Act at Chopdem, Pernem, after the Brahm Agro Terra Projects Limited failed to pay the additional fee of Rs 7.16 crore, as per the new notification.
A new notification dated April 4, 2025, rescinding the zone correction was submitted to the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday.
The government after converting the land to settlement zone had directed the chief town planner (planning) to assess the rate as per the old notification dated March 15, 2023. The government issued another notification dated March 28, 2024, revising the rates.
The government had assessed the application dated February 5, 2024 of the Brahm Agro Terra Projects Limited as per the rate notified in the old notification dated March 15, 2023 and collected a fee of Rs 1.79 crore.
But later the Department of Finance (Revenue and Control) asked the TCP department to collect fees as published in the Official Gazette dated March 28, 2024, for all applications approved after March 28, 2024.
In view of this, the TCP Department re-assessed the fee payable by the applicant as per the revised rate and accordingly issued another assessment order dated February 26, 2025 along with e-challan requesting the applicant to deposit additional Rs 7.16 crore within seven days of issue of the order. But since the Brahm Agro Terra Projects Limited did not pay the additional fee of Rs 7.16 crore the matter was placed before the TCP Board meeting held on March 7, 2025, where the Board decided to rescind the rectification carried out in respect of the plot of land admeasuring 89,000 sqms at Chopdem.
During the course of hearing, the TCP counsel informed the court that 22 persons had paid the revised rates and that 14 had been issued notices to pay the additional amount failing which their zoning permission will be rescinded.
The Directorate of Vigilance produced in a sealed cover informing the court that an inquiry is in progress with respect to 46 cases and that the Court after going through the report observed that there was enormous loss caused to the public exchequer. Since the investigation is ongoing, the report was kept in a sealed cover as part of the court record till the conclusion of the investigation.
The Directorate of Vigilance further told the court another 50 cases of under assessment have been given to them for investigation.
Arguing on behalf of the petitioners, Adv Rohit Bras De Sa submitted that the officer who under-assessed these properties for the purpose of revenue collection be held liable. The Court told him that this issue will be dealt with after the deficit fees are recovered.
Adv De Sa also prayed that the conversion sanads issued by the TCP Department be revoked.
He also disclosed that the TCP Minister had also availed benefit under Section 17 (2) of TCP Act and was given relief stating that “fees are not applicable.”
“This was absurd,” he said. But the Court said that all these issues would be examined after the respondents file their replies.