Team Herald
PANJIM: Setting the ball rolling for implementation of its recent order to review the Regional Plan 2021, Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vijai Sardesai has directed the department to constitute a five-member technical expert committee to recommend to the government projects with built up area of above 2000 sq mtrs for approval under RP 21.
“We have issued certain guidelines to implement the Regional Plan 21 selectively. We are sticking to our order,” Sardesai told Herald.
He said that directions have issued to the Chief Town Planner on constitution of a five-member technical expert committee.
In an order issued on March 28, the State revived RP21 allowing construction activities, on case-to-case basis, on the lands notified as settlement, commercial, institutional and industrial zones. However, it prohibited development in eco-sensitive areas like low-lying paddy fields, water bodies, khazan land, flood-prone areas, lands having slopes with over 25 per cent inclination, and forest lands, including private forests.
“Applications falling in settlement zones and other developable zones of Regional Plan 2021, but not falling under developable zones of Regional Plan 2001, shall be dealt and cleared as per the hierarchy,” the order issued by the Chief Town Planner Rajesh Naik reads.
As per this under category I, taluka level town planner is granted powers to issue technical clearance for single family dwelling unit up to a total built up area of 250 sq mtrs. He/she has to also recommend conversion of use of land under Revenue and Land Reforms (LRC) for area commensurate to the consumed coverage/FAR.
Under category II, the district level town planner is allowed to issue technical clearance for maximum two dwelling units up to total built up area of 500 sq mtrs and further recommend conversion of use of land under Revenue and Land Reforms (LRC) for area commensurate to the consumed coverage/ FAR.
The Chief Town Planner, who comes under Category III, is empowered to issue clearance to maximum four dwelling units up to a total built up area of 800 sq mtrs and land development (plotted development) up to 4000 sq mtrs area.
Government, comprising of category IV, has powers to clear all proposals above category III and applications for commercial, industrial and institutional projects irrespective of the area.
While processing applications, the rules and regulations prescribed under Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulations, 2010 have to be taken into account.
“Plot shall be strictly within the permissible slope and shall not be low laying in nature. Land falling within permissible slopes, that is from 1.10 gradient to 1.4 gradient, permission under Section 17-A of the Act has to be obtained simultaneously whole considering he application from technical clearance,” the guidelines stated.
“Similarly, if low-lying areas falling in the settlement zone are considered for development, simultaneous clearance under Section 17-A of the Act shall be insisted,” it said further.
The land falling in the buffer zone of wildlife sanctuaries and those in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) cannot be developed without the prior permission of Forest Department even if they fall under the settlement or developable zones, it stated.
