PANJIM: In a major move, the State government is contemplating amendments to the existing Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act to ensure that future buildings in Goa have a common architectural façade. Not just this, but the government may also alter the current laws to stop or regularise sale of land to non-Goans.
Speaking to Herald, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai said his priority would be ‘to make Goa look like Goa having unique feature of Goenkarponn’.
“In the 50th year of the Opinion Poll, we want Goa to look different, different with its unique identity. The architectural heritage of Goa needs to be preserved and promoted for which we have to come out with specific measures to incentivise the aim to make Goa look different,” Sardesai said.
Stating that certain amendments will be needed in the existing TCP Act, the Minister said the buildings that would be constructed in the future will have a common façade. “We want to make all new buildings look similar with a particular façade which will reflect Goan architecture,” he said.
Sardesai said that with the State government having powers under the Constitution to control or ban sale of land to non-Goans, steps need to be initiated in this direction.
“I have discussed the same with the chief minister and will put it up during our meeting on the common minimum programme. We will also take up the issue of amending existing laws to stop or control sale of land to non-Goans so that the identity of the State is maintained. If required a legislation can be brought in,” he said.
Last month the Minister held his first meeting with TCP officials wherein he was apprised about the various existing laws. He was also briefed about the department’s functioning.
Sardessai will hold his first meeting as Minister on April 19 with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to discuss the action plan for finalisation and notification of the long-pending Regional Plan 2021.
