PANJIM: Converting orchard lands illegally will now invite criminal action by the government, Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vijai Sardesai has warned.
During the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department meeting, chaired by Minister Vijai Sardesai, it was decided to file an FIR against land owners and the project developers for illegal land conversion. An FIR has already been lodged in one such case in Poriem village.
After the meeting, Sardessai told reporters that state government has decided to crack down on illegal developments in orchard land in Goa. He said that the department has come across several such cases in Poriem, Valpoi, Nagva-Verna, Curtorim and Canacona.
Section 49 (vi) of Town and Country Planning Act mandates Planning and Development Authorities (PDAs) to issue NOC for sale of land in city areas.
“NOCs cannot be issued under this provision for orchard land in non-city areas,” he said adding that as per Section 16 (a) of the TCP Act, if there is development in contravention of the law, then an FIR can be filed and a fine of Rs 1 lakh can be imposed.
The minister said that the town planners are currently studying all the cases across State and accordingly FIRs would be filed.
The department is also considering suitable amendment to the Town and Country Planning Act to ensure that the permissions for single family dwellings get approvals in one day.
“There are several sub-divided plots. If single family wants to come up with a dwelling then the TCP approval will be granted in one day. For this purpose, we will make necessary amendment to the TCP Act,” he said.
On the Transferable Development Rights (TDRs), Sardessai said that the process to draft the policy has begun and the same would be ready in the next six months.
He said that before TRD policy and Regional Plan is put in place, the government would draft special regulation to consider applications that are in public interest, for zonal changes, on a case-to-case basis.
