Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government is considering an amendment to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act that will pave the way to consider applications for zonal changes on a case-to-case basis that are in public interest, until it initiates the process for finalising the policy for transferable development rights (TDR).
Sources said that following legal advice from the Advocate General, the government intends to amend the TCP Act and clear such applications. “As it is urgent, the government may also issue an ordinance to amend the Act,” sources said.
TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai had announced in the House last year that until the process for a new plan starts, the government is planning to allow the TCP Board to consider applications for zonal changes in public interest and of importance.
Sources, however, revealed that the Advocate General pointed out that there is no provision in the TCP Act at present to undertake such a process. “Accordingly, the department was advised to amend the Act,” sources added.
When contacted, Sardesai said that at present the focus is to review the Regional Plan 2021 as they are contemplating releasing certain areas that fall outside the eco-sensitive zones, following approval from the government. “Several MLAs have raised their concern that in the absence of regional plan, illegalities were rampant in the State. We will look into it now,” he added.
Meanwhile, TCP has also decided to go slow on the TDR policy – which will be conceptualized into two phases – short term and for a longer perspective.
“The real estate is already facing the heat of Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act and if government now brings in TDR, the industry will collapse. We are just going slow on it,” sources said.
TDR is aimed at protecting and conserving eco-sensitive zones, salt pans, mangroves, and even heritage homes. The concept paper proposing how to go ahead with the TDR scheme was submitted to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and TCP Minister in August 2017, however, it has been kept aside at present.
