PANJIM: Terming it as “illegal” and “untenable”, the Congress has urged State government to withdraw the public notice issued by Department of Town and Country Planning (TCP) inviting suggestions and objections for zonal change under Section 16B, within seven days.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar in a letter to the Chief Secretary as well as Secretary TCP has also demanded disciplinary action against the officers for making public incorrect and misleading information.
Earlier this month, the CTP issued public notice inviting suggestions and objections for 72 zone change applications under Section 16B, without details like name of the applicant, total size of the area, current status of the zone, etc.
“We trust that the Government or the TCP Board has nothing to hide. The Public Notice issued in the newspapers itself is illegal and untenable. Hence we demand that the Public Notice in the newspapers be withdrawn immediately and fresh notice in the newspapers be issued with clear details within seven days,” Chodankar said.
In his complaint, Chodankar pointed out that the public notice issued has no details like the name of applicant, survey number and sub-division of the land, city or village, taluka, current zone, total area, change of zone requested, etc.
“Unless, these details are set out in the Public Notice, none of us would be able to appreciate the nature and extent of the request for change of zone,” he said.
The Congress president said the public notice inviting objections must contain the basic necessary particulars for enabling the public to have knowledge of the facts, for raising necessary objections.
“Transparency is the need of the hour specially in governmental functioning. The citizens had the right to know as guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution of India. There cannot be any hide and seek with the public,” he said.
