SURAJ NANDREKAR
suraj@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Off late the entire State is up in arms over inclusion of villages in PDAs and re-opening of Regional Plans and if one goes by the “illegalities” happening in the Town and Country Planning Department one opines it isn’t something to do just with ‘politics’.
Herald’s in depth investigation has brought to the fore how political bosses interfere to grant permissions as per their whims and fancies “overruling” top bureaucrats and officers. In this particular case the top bureaucrat had said “no” to a construction project which was overruled after the intervention of the then Chief Minister.
Documents availed under RTI reveals that one Dr Vithoba Panvelkar applied for a construction licence for residential building blocks A1, A2, A3, A4 in Survey no 53/1-B in Curca, Tiswadi. The property is on a slope and part of it is designated as no development slope.
File notings obtained from Town and Country Planning Department say the TCP had permitted cutting of the hill for construction of an access road to the plot which is proposed to be developed but the area is designated as ‘No Development Slope’ as the gradient exceeds 25 per cent.
But the record does not disclose that permission has been granted for cutting of the sloping land under Section 17A of the TCP Act, 1978.
Herald understands that as per the term of the Regulation 4.10 read with 10.3 of the Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulations, 2010 no development permission can be granted in respect of sloping land the gradient of which exceeds 25 per cent and therefore these areas are designated no development slope. In this particular case a relaxation was granted for permitted of access road and cutting hill.
RTI replies also reveal that Panvelkar had applied for permission in 2011 but it was rejected on many occasions by the Town Planners and Deputy Town Planners.
The Town Planners in 2012 itself had said that as per RP 2021 the area of 3025 sq mts was partly NDZ and partly settlement.
“The plot does not have adequate access. The contour plan submitted by applicant did not tally with actual site condition and the property has slope beyond 25 p.c,” the inspection report of the TCP on 10/06/2012 states.
The inspection report also said that as “per the records available this office had on 22/11/2011 recommended conversion for an area of 3205 based on RP 2021 subject to condition that only single dwelling unit will be permitted.”
The case was then referred to the Chief Town Planner on 18/3/13, who also cited the above issues.
Then comes the twist to the tale. Two years later on July 13, 2015, Sudin Natu, OSD to then Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar writes to TCP to know why the project approval is not granted.
“I am directed to enclose copy of letter dated January 27 2015 alongwith the enclosures received from Dr Panvelkar regarding construction of multi-family dwelling unit in Survey No 53/1-B Curca Village, Tiswadi Goa. Hon’ble CM desires to know the factual position on the same,” the letter states.
This is when the project starts rolling again. The Dy Town Planner Tiswadi conducts an inspection and again rejects the project. But thereafter came the final nail in the coffin after rejection by the top officer of TCP department.
Principal Secretary TCP on 18/04/16 in his remark said “NO PERMISSION may be given as the NO DEVELOPMENT SLOPE having gradient of 25 per cent restricts the development.”
However a week later, on 24/04/16 then Dy CM Francis D’Souza strangely calls for another inspection overruling the officer. “Please discuss for inspection,” says his remark on the file.
Exactly two months later the Chief Town Planner clears the approval which nobody knows on what grounds. “In view of inspection made, Section 17 A may be relaxed and approval is granted,” CTP said in his file noting on 23/06/2016. Thus, a Technical Clearance order was given to the project on 16/08/2016.
Don’t remember the case exactly: D’Souza
When Herald contacted then Dy CM Francis D’Souza for his comments on the issue, he feigned ignorance of the issue.
“I do not remember the case exactly. I remember Dr Panvelkar coming to my house two-three times and I asking for re-inspection as he was insisting. I do not remember anything thereafter,” he said.
D’Souza further said the department must have given permissions only after a thorough inspection was done.
Will examine the issue: Vijai
TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai said he has no knowledge of this project and will need to examine it. “I have no knowlegde of the project but will examine the issue. However, you can get exact details from the Chief Town Planner,” he said.
