Team Herald
PANJIM: The ten-member committee headed by the Chief Town Planner, scrutinising the outline development plans (ODPs) has come across various wrondoings, like conversion of tenanted, khazan and no-development lands, said Minister for Town and Country Planner (TCP) Vishwajit Rane.
In his series of tweets, Rane has charged that former chairmen of the Planning and Development Area (PDAs), have converted their own properties while holding the office.
The Government, on April 22, suspended the final ODPs of Parra-Arpora-Nagoa, Calangute-Candolim and Vasco pending scrutiny. Similarly, the draft ODPs of Panjim, Kadamba Plateau, Mapusa, Margao and Ponda have been kept on hold for a period of 60 days.
A ten-member committee, headed by CTP Rajesh Naik, was constituted to scrutinise and review the ODPs and submit report within 60 days. The first meeting of the committee was held last week.
“The Committee headed by CTP is in process of scrutinising all ODPs. One meeting has already taken place and it is worth noting that several wrongdoings have been highlighted. In the interest of the State and to preserve its uniqueness, it is necessary to correct these wrong doings,” Rane tweeted.
The Minister said that several tenanted and khazan lands have been converted, along with non development slopes that exceed permissible gradients, i.e. greater than 35 gradients. “These irregularities are shocking to say the least,” he added.
“Some people at the high level positions, former chairmen of PDAs, who were instrumental in preparing the ODPs, have converted their own properties while holding office,” he said adding ‘it amounts to prosecution under the Prevention and Corruption Act for using public office for personal gains’.
Indirectly attacking former Minister and incumbent Leader of Opposition Michael Lobo, Rane said that several ‘such irregularities’ have been identified in the ODP of Nagoa-Parra and others, where high rise buildings have been approved without having proper access.
Rane has assured to share all the information, survey number once the committee completes its review.
The Minister expressed confidence that the committee headed by the CTP will make necessary changes to protect Goa’s uniqueness while also maintaining total transparency in the department of TCP.
