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GBA to seek political support to replace ‘outdated’ TCP Act 1974

HERALD
MARCH 16, 2010
The Goa Bachao Abhiyan has decided to rally for political support to replace the existing “outdated” Goa Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, 1974 with the model TCP Act 1998 so that there is legal validity for Regional Plan as the master plan for Goa and for people’s participation as well as protection of eco-sensitive zones.

Dr.Sabina Martin's said that GBA and the village groups demand that the draft Goa TCP act of 1998 be introduced in the coming budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, which begins from March 22, as a replacement for the outdated TCP act 1974. The TCP Act 1974 which is being followed till now has no legal provision for regional plan in the present form. Besides, it is not in consonance with the 73rd and 74th amendments to the constitution.

“Hence, the requisite amendments must be made for the recognition of the RP 2021 and for the inclusion of people’s participation as well as for the protection of eco-sensitive zone,” Martins added.

The GBA has decided to appeal all the MLAs to facilitate introduction of the said bill for replacing the exciting TCP act with a new one that is in consonance with the 73rd and 74th amendment as per the article 243 of the constitution of India.

But at the same time they admitted that since no much time is been left for the coming assembly session, it would not be possible for the government to table the amendment.
“We will lobby with the legislators to take up this issue on the floor of the house and discuss it at least during Zero Hours,” Martins added when it was pointed out to her that Business Advisory Committee has already finalised the business of the House.

Martins said that though Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on March 4 had given the assurance to GBA that the RP 2021 for Goa will be finalised by September 2010, there was no firm commitment from Kamat that the RP would be made effective across Goa to truly make it ‘One Goa-One Plan’.

GBA also said that multiple entry points for ‘developers’, such as ODPs (Outline Development Plans) and Amendments 16&16A to the Goa TCP Act, undermine the Regional Plan 2021 today, even as the Draft Regional Plan 2021 has not been officially recognized by the Town & Country Planning Act 1974 as the master plan for Goa as it is stated to lack legal validity for implementation.

VERIFICATIONS: She also said that on March 19, the GBA will check whether instructions have been issued to the TCP officers to stop development on eco-sensitive zone as promised by chief minister earlier this month. The appointment is yet to be fixed.

“When the delegation went to CM he had assured that within fifteen days the government will cancel the construction license of all the developers within eco-sensitive zone,” Martins stated.
GBA also demanded that the public must receive a progress report of the RP in every two weeks as promised by TCP and all the data pertaining to draft RP 2021 must be made available on the TCP website and must be transparent for public at any time.

“The plan must be kept open for public for a period of 30 days before final notification with explanatory notes allowing for possible violations to be spotted by concerned villages,” Martins reiterated.

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GBA to seek political support to replace ‘outdated’ TCP Act 1974

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