PORVORIM: The State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the Goa Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill 2024, amid protests by the Opposition MLAs, who rushed to the well of the House. The Bill seeks to omit Section 16 B of the Goa Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, 1974, (Act 21 of 1975) so as to do away with the provisions of Section 16 B.
The Bill also seeks to insert a new Section 39 A in the Act to make provisions to alter/modify the Regional Plan and/or the Outline Development Plan for carrying out the change of zone of any land therein.
When the Bill was taken up for discussion, Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao sought to know how Section 16 B was different from the proposed section 39 A.
Sant Andre MLA Viresh Borkar claimed the amendment has been brought to ‘finish Goa’. He demanded that the Bill be withdrawn.
Quepem MLA Alton D’Costa sought to know what will happen to the money paid under Section 16 (B) of the TCP Act. “Will the money be refunded directly to the people?” he asked. Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardesai asked if an error was made by the government then why should people pay for the correction of the error? “If you are doing it for the Regional Plan then it should be done free of cost,” he said.However, TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane said 39 A of the TCP Act is a replacement for 16 B and under Section 39 A, the eco-sensitive zones will not be converted.
He said that the government is ready to place 7,000 applications before the House for conversion of eco-sensitive zones. An expert committee will be formed to address the gaps, but ‘too much deliberation cannot be done’, as the matter is sub-judice, Rane added.
The Opposition MLAs were not satisfied with the reply of the Minister and demanded that the Bill to be put for vote in the House. As the Speaker did not heed their demand, they protested and Viegas, who sat on the floor, was marshalled out.
