MARGAO: The Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) on Sunday demanded that the proposed TCP amendment Bill be scrapped and instead the recently constituted TCP Act review committee be asked to give its recommendations in a stipulated time frame.
It wanted this to be done though a consultative process which includes a bottom-to-top planning process and revocation of Section 16/16A.
The GBA strongly objected to the introduction of a new Bill to amend the Goa Town and Country Planning Act in the current session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
The NGO has alleged that the new Bill is sought to throw open hill slopes, fields, khazan lands, low lying areas and water bodies for construction which are presently prohibited under Section 17A, added in 1997 to the Goa TCP Act, 1974, expressly to protect the hill slopes and fields against 'conversion' for construction.
The GBA has alleged that the proposed Goa TCP (Amendment) Bill, 2010, which is "hurriedly being pushed by the Digamber Kamat government is to undo the safeguards added to the Goa, Daman & Diu TCP Act, 1974 through the insertion of Section 17A and 17B after careful consideration vide the Goa TCP (Amendment) Act, 1997 after becoming a state."
The three stated objectives of the proposed amendment are: the need to specify authorities to implement provision regarding punitive measures; enable the government to frame rules and regulations for implementation of provisions under Section 17A; to do away with ‘undue control’ and scope for ambiguity implied in the present provisions under
Section 17A.
The GBA has alleged that the proposed Bill is totally silent on the first and second objectives, whereas, under the third stated objective, has introduced sub-section 2 and sub-section 3, which remove the condition of seeking permissions from TCP under Section 17A and that it proposes changes to Section 17A by inserting sub-sections 2 and 3 clearly aimed to give leave and licence to projects like the disputed/under litigation DLF-Saravathi Builders "River Valley GOA" on steep hill slopes by permitting at sub-section (3) "excavation limited to footings for foundation of legal construction, cutting for making trenches/drains for laying cables, pipelines or any engineering services or construction of steps or roads" and states in its objects and reasons.
Arguing that the last three years, since the revocation of the RP 2011, the people of Goa are crying hoarse for amendments to ensure peoples’ participation as per 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution of India, but the government did not move any Bill for such amendment.
