Times of India | 6 hours ago | 27-09-2022 | 07:52 am
PANAJI: Town and country planning minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday scrapped the draft building rules that would have paved the way for golf courses, farm houses, film cities and yoga centres on Goa's agricultural and orchard lands. Rane, who initially announced that he would keep the contentious norms in abeyance, appeared to have backed down in the face of street protests. The scrapping is being seen as a significant victory for citizens and green activists. Rane also announced that the TCP department decided to scrap all approvals granted to applicants under Section 16B (change of zone) of the TCP Act. Rane said that the department will file an affidavit before the Goa bench of the Bombay high court informing it about the policy decision. However, Rane intends to invite fresh applications under Section 16B. "Keeping the TCP amendments in abeyance will create more doubt, so I have decided to scrap all the amendments," said Rane. "The expert committee and the TCP board will discuss these same amendments, discuss with all stakeholders, bring it to the board and then take the process forward." He said that the suggestions and objections submitted by the people would be examined by an expert committee chaired by Los Angeles-based city planner Vinayak Bharne. Confederation of Indian Industry chairperson Swati Salgaonkar will be vice-chairperson of the expert committee. "I have sent an email to the chief town planner that the amendment has to be scrapped with immediate effect," Rane said. Rane intends to place the draft amendments and the objections submitted so far before this committee, and based on the expert committee’s report, the amendments could be redrafted and notified again. “Our main aim is transparency and Goa’s benefit,” Rane said. The amendments would also include other changes such as allowing a higher built-up area for high-end hotels, and areas defined as central business districts, regularisation of illegal structures, and allowing for residential complexes in lands zoned as industrial. The TCP department’s moves irked civil society and prompted many to question Rane’s motives. “There is nothing selfish in my motives,” said Rane. “There is no personal agenda.” The minister also announced that the final approvals and provisional approvals granted under Section 16B of the TCP Act will be scrapped. “There will be no valid case of Section 16B from today. After that, we ask the court for permission to once again operationalise Section 16B,” he said. Earlier in the day, environmentalists and concerned citizens held a peaceful protest against the draft regulations outside the TCP building. The protest was organised by the Federation of Rainbow Warriors and other activists. The activists said that the TCP department has shown no scientific basis while framing the amendments to the regulations. Over the last two weeks, several villages have also organised gram sabha meetings where locals have panned the TCP department’s move to encourage golf courses, film cities, farm houses and other mega projects in the state. Activists had accused the government of proposing to have golf courses, film cities, yoga centres in agricultural zones and diluting laws to allow star hotels in the state without studying the carrying capacity. They had also charged the government of creating special commercial zones with high FARs and for proposing dilution of road requirements for new projects. The government had also come under severe criticism for trying to regularise illegal structures of upto 500 sqm built up area. Activists had demanded that Rane and chief minister Pramod Sawant resign instead of putting the state on sale.
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