PANJIM: The State government has notified the amendment to the Goa Panchayat Raj Act wherein building nod will be deemed to be granted if the panchayat and the Block Development Officer (BDO) fail to take a decision on the application for construction licence or issuance of company certificate within 60 days.
The Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2023 was passed in the Winter Session of the State Legislative Assembly held in January. Thereafter the Governor granted its assent to the bill on March 6.
As per the amendment, if the Panchayat does not, within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of the application, determine whether such permission should be given or not and communicate its decision to the applicant, the Secretary shall forward the application to the BDO on expiry of 30 days period. The applicant is also at the liberty to file an appeal before BDO.
“If the Block Development Officer fails to determine whether such permission should be given or not and communicate his decision to the applicant within a period of 30 days from the date of intimation by the Secretary or receipt of the appeal, immediately upon expiration of such period of thirty days, such permission shall be deemed to have been granted to the applicant to execute the work strictly in accordance with the technical clearance and plans as approved by the Town and Country Planning Authorities,” states the notification.
