TCP dept changes zones of six plots in N Goa, mum on details

Panaji: The town and country planning department (TCP) has notified the approval to change the zoning of six plots of land using Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act. The approval was granted at the board meeting held in June. The TCP department has given a 30-day window to file objections and suggestions.
The TCP department has used Section 39A to tweak the Regional Plan for Goa-2021 and the Outline Development Plan (ODP) of Calangute-Candolim, Planning Area-2025.The department introduced Section 39A as a replacement for Section 16B of the act and to ensure ease of land conversions in Goa. Section 16B was challenged in the Bombay high court.
Of the six applications, four of the plots are in Pernem, where the department had attempted to carte blanche change the zoning for 1.4 crore sqm or 21% of the green cover in the taluka.
The zone change has been done in Korgao, Morjim and Parsem villages but the notification offers no details about the area converted or the ownership of the plots, as was the practice earlier. Plots have also been converted in Candolim and Mayem.
“The TCP department had placed such proposals along with its scrutiny reports before the Goa Town and Country Planning Board for its recommendation, approval and decision,” said Rajesh Naik, the chief town planner (planning).
The department has not specified the area that has been converted. The notification also does not specify the original classification of the plot before it was converted. Once the 30-day period expires, the department will issue the final decision on zone change, said Naik.
Section 39A allows the chief town planner to modify the Regional Plan or ODP through a piecemeal process. The department had announced that a fee of Rs 500 to Rs 50,000 will be charged for the conversion of a plot based on the area to be converted. Also, a fee ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 400 per sqm will have to be paid based on the type of zone change.