PANJIM: Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday stated that the State government is mulling a new TCP Act within the next six months.
Rane said that the TCP Act which was formulated in the early 70s during the then Minister Pratapsingh Rane’s period needs to be revamped and revisited. The new TCP Act will be formulated using inputs from stakeholders, experts and architects, he said.
Senior architects, stakeholders and members of the Goa Bachao Abhiyan whose efforts led to the scrapping of the 2011 TCP Act reacted sharply to the move. Renowned architect Dean D’Cruz, said, “The changes that are happening at the moment are very destructive. It looks like there is a complete sell-out of Goa. It is very destructive to suddenly have six months for the new TCP Act when it took four years to prepare the Regional Plan with proper data. Now things are being completely destroyed by random changes and based on what is happening I think any new change in the Town and Country Planning Act will be completely destructive.”
Defending his decision, the TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane said, “My job is that within the next six months, Goa will have a new TCP Act. We need to do it and we need to have a comprehensive Act for the next 30 to 40 years. Time has come to change the Act and make it much easier and more beneficial for people.”
The minister also reiterated that all the buildings and properties in housing societies that are more than 20 years old and require redevelopment will be granted exemptions with increased Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and Floor Space Index (FSI), which will be uniform across the State.
Federation of Rainbow Warriors leader Abhijit Prabhudesai pointed out that the Regional Plan and various Outline Development Plans (ODPs) are under challenge on the court. Since 2006, the people of Goa have been demanding amendments by making special planning and land use planning at the grassroots level and not by the government making changes by sitting in office.
Prabhudesai said that the past actions of the TCP Minister show that he is planning to go in the opposite direction, which is nothing but a perfect recipe for destroying Goa.
Reacting to the TCP Minister’s statement, Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) convenor Sabina Martins said that new legislation must be a participatory process and should be a part of sustainable development. Law should not be thrust on the people and it should be formulated in keeping with planning principles.
Stating that in the name of planning people saw large-scale devastation taking place; Martins demanded that the Act should not be amended to suit vested interests.
Activist Swapnesh Sherlekar said that the TCP Minister has to give clarity about the controversial Section 16 (B) and Section 17 (2) of the TCP Act.
He further added, “The TCP website has not been updated. Since August last year, the minutes of TCP Board meetings have not been uploaded on its website. The TCP Department has made zoning planning for Pernem taluka but to date it is unable to upload it on its website.
