Latest news with #RegionalPlan2021
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
High Court notice to Goa govt over fees waved for land zone corrections
The High Court of Bombay at Goa Thursday issued notice to the state government, Secretary Town and Country Planning department, Town and Country Planning Department, Directorate of Vigilance and former chief town planner in a petition seeking directions to the authorities to recover the fees allegedly 'illegally waived' under a contentious provision of the Goa Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act. According to the petitioner, activist Swapnesh Sherlekar, the fees for correction of certain land zones was illegally waived under section 17 (2) of the Goa Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act on the 'specious' ground that 'deletion of proposed road fee is not applicable'. The section 17(2), which was introduced through an amendment to the TCP Act and notified in 2023, allows the conversion of privately owned plots in Goa's Regional Plan 2021, based on individual applications from such parties to 'correct inadvertent errors' and 'rectify inconsistent or incoherent zoning'. The government notified the fees for correction of zones under section 17 (2) of the Act on March 16, 2023. Subsequently, the revised fee for zone changes was notified through the supplement official gazette on March 28 last year. The HC read down the section in March this year. The petition states in the list of cases considered for correction of zone under section 17 (2) of the Act, several entries contained a notation 'deletion of proposed road fee not applicable' without any statutory basis for such exemption. The petition stated that among such cases were properties belonging to TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane, who is also a respondent in the petition, alleging that he 'benefited from an unauthorized exemption of fees'. The petition said there are 'numerous' cases of deletion of proposed roads since the Act was notified, which require scrutiny for similar unauthorised exemptions. It further said that there is no provision in the TCP Act or any rules, regulations or notifications thereunder that provide exemption of fees for deletion of proposed roads under section 17 (2) of the Act. The petition said the respondent authorities have acted with 'manifest arbitrariness, mala fide and abuse of power in exempting certain applications from payment of statutory fees without any legal basis or justification.' The petition further claimed that the respondent authorities have failed to discharge their duties in accordance with law and have instead acted in a manner that suggests collusion to confer undue benefit on certain individuals at the expense of the public exchequer. On Thursday, the High Court heard the submissions of the petitioners. In the order, the court said: 'At this stage, we deem it appropriate to issue notice to respondent 1 to 4 as well as respondent 6 in the capacity of chief town planner (planning)…' The Court also directed the respondents to file an affidavit in response within three weeks. The court said it has 'noted the specific pleadings in the petition, which revolve around the properties' belonging to Rane, but did not issue a notice to him.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
New road notification to affect 1k livelihoods: Mandrem locals
Mapusa: Mandrem residents want major district roads (MDRs) in the constituency to be registered as other district roads (ODRs). Locals said six 53km-long MDR roads are likely to affect nearly 1,000 structures and over 30% of constituents directly or indirectly. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The high court has directed village panchayats to act against roadside illegal structures and submit reports. Govt notification states that a setback of 12.5m from the road centerline must be maintained. Locals say the new MDR road notification may severely impact Mandrem residents. MLA Jit Arolkar and villagers met chief minister Pramod Sawant, demanding changes to the TCP Act, cancellation of the MDR notification, and its denotification from the Regional Plan 2021. Arolkar also discussed the impact with the CM and submitted panchayat resolutions. Under the banner of Jagrut villagers, locals said most Mandrem families are joint, and some are nuclear. They often build homes or small shops on ancestral land along the roadside and start small businesses. If the panchayat secretary submits survey reports, nearly 1,000 structures may face legal action, leading to mass unemployment. 'Denotify the clause in the regional plan 2021 notifying 25m width MDR and maintain its width from 8-10m or as the existing roads,' the committee said.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
GTDC plans to redevelop Vasco Residency via PPP model
Panaji: In a fresh push to monetise its properties, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) initiated steps to hand over the Vasco Residency to a private entity for hotel redevelopment through the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This follows its recent offer of a 22,529sqm plot at Britona to private developers with a 100% floor area ratio (FAR) for a 60-year lease. A similar PPP plan is also under way for its Miramar property. Spread over a 3,158sqm plot in the heart of Vasco, Vasco Residency is a ground plus five-storey structure with 63 rooms and a restaurant. GTDC maintains and operates the facility, which is among its key city-based tourism assets with a built-up area of 5,558.5sqm. Under the proposed PPP model, the selected private concessionaire will have to demolish the existing structure and build a new 3-star or higher category city hotel with at least 30 rooms. The project will follow the design, build, finance, operate, and transfer model. The site, which falls under the C1 commercial zone as per the Regional Plan 2021, allows development up to 200% FAR, 24m maximum height (including stilts), and 40% ground coverage. GTDC has allowed the concessionaire flexibility to develop additional commercial components on-site, such as a multiplex or theatre, adding a cultural or entertainment layer to the facility. If awarded, the project agreement will initially run for 30 years, with an option to renew for another 30 years, subject to terms and conditions. The GTDC's shift to the PPP model aims to revive its ageing infrastructure using private capital and expertise. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, privatising long-standing public assets like Vasco Residency — located in a high-traffic urban node — may invite scrutiny over public interest, long-term control, and commercial use of public land. GTDC decided to outsource properties like Miramar Residency, Old Goa Residency, Britona Residency, and Anjuna Residency over a decade ago under the PPP model. Still, the results did not yield the desired outcome for govt. The Miramar Residency, which spans 20,000sqm, features 60 rooms. In its place, GTDC wants to build a resort with 587 rooms, a restaurant, a spa, and a pool.
