Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa is set to introduce the “deemed approval” concept to help citizens as well as real estate and other project proponents to expedite their ventures.
The Department of Town and Country Planning (TCP) is in the process of amending its Act, to add a provision for deemed approval of licence of approvals, if the authority does not communicate it within 21 working days from the date of receipt of application pertaining to land up to 2,000 sq mts and 45 days for above 2,000 sq mts.
The TCP Board that met on Monday under Minister Vishwajit Rane is aggressively working towards offering ease of doing business by aiming to clear the applications in the shortest possible time.
Speaking to media persons post meeting, Rane said that the final amendments to the Act are already being drafted and would be finalised at the next Board meeting.
“A ‘deemed approval’ concept, which is the need of the hour, would be introduced through the amendment,” he said.
Rane said that all the files pertaining to land up to 2,000 sq mts will have to be approved within 21 days from the date of receipt of applications, while for above 2,000 sq mts the time limit will be 45 days. “Otherwise the application will be considered deemed approved,” he said.
In yet another decision, which will be in force from May 1, the Board has decided to grant self attestation powers to architects empanelled with the department, for a built up area up to 500 sq mts. “This is a revolutionary step. One need not go to Chief Town Officer or Planning and Development Authority. You can directly get it done through the empanelled architect,” he said.
The Minister said that for first three months, the facility will be restricted to only 500 sq mts built up area and the scope will be gradually expanded. “This will reduce the load on TCP and PDAs also,” he said.
Also, an online file tracking system will be put in place from May 1, wherein citizens will be able to track the progress of their files sitting at home.
“This will bring in much-needed transparency in the system,” Rane said.
