Latest news with #TCP
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Goa govt loses Rs 107cr as TCP gives free FAR to 321 commercial units
Panaji: Goa has lost Rs 107 crore as the town and country planning (TCP) department gave concessions to commercial establishments by not levying fees for additional floor area ratio (FAR), a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has said. But the loss shoots up to over Rs 2,000 crore if it is calculated on the rate recommended by the finance department, the audit report said. The TCP department granted 10.7 lakh sqm additional FAR to 321 commercial establishments on their request without levying any fees, while the finance department had directed the TCP to charge Rs 1,000 per sqm on the additional FAR and height granted to the commercial establishments. 'Due to non-levy of any fees while granting additional FAR to the commercial establishments, there was a loss of Rs 107 crore to the state exchequer,' the report said. The audit report also said if the rate, as recommended by the finance department, 'is calculated on the basis of Rs 20,000 per sqm charged for four-star and five-star hotels, which are commercial establishments, then the loss of revenue amounts to Rs 2,147 crore'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo But the ceiling for the grant of additional height and FAR was left open without any limit. In the absence of any provision for levy of fees for the grant of additional FAR and height, the TCP department granted additional FAR to 321 commercial establishments free of cost. A senior audit officer said the TCP department, through a notification on Aug 9, 2023, categorised the FAR. Thereafter, the department amended and inserted a new clause (2) under 6.1.1 of the regulations, whereby it was stated that 'govt, on recommendation of the TCP board, shall grant additional height and FAR to the proposals on a case-to-case basis in consideration of the locational aspect, nature of development, use proposed, information available, and any such other criteria, if required. Such relaxation shall, however, not be relaxed for more than 20% permitted in the prevailing regulations.' But within 12 days, through another notification on Aug 21, 2023, the TCP department deleted the earlier clause: '…such relaxation shall, however, not be relaxed for more than 20% permitted in the prevailing regulations,' thereby not capping the ceiling limit. In 2015, the TCP department through a notification on July 2 had said four-star and five-star hotels may be granted 'an additional FAR of 20% on the recommendation of the committee and on the approval of govt', but on payment of Rs 20,000 per sqm. As the 321 commercial establishments were set up for profit motive, the TCP department should have levied the fees in line with those charged for four- and five-star hotels, the report said. The report also said the rate prescribed by the finance department needs to be reviewed as it was minimal and there was no slab for various categories (individuals, commercial establishments) for the grant of additional FAR and height. The TCP department through the Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulation, 2010, regulates building construction in Goa. The regulation specifies technical parameters like FAR, height, amenities, water supply, sewerage, and fire safety. The technical parameters differ from zone to zone, as well as the size of the building and plot.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
HC wants replies from TCP on zone-swap fee waivers
Panaji: The high court has called for replies from the TCP department and the director of vigilance in a PIL seeking to recover fees illegally waived under Section 17(2) of the TCP Act. This waiver was for deleting roads proposed in the regional plan, thereby reclassifying them as settlement areas. The PIL filed by Swapnesh Sherlekar alleged a loss to the exchequer in cases considered for correction of zones. under Section 17(2), where several proposed roads were deleted without the collection of fees and without any statutory basis for such exemption. Among these were properties belonging to TCP minister Vishwajit Rane, who benefited from this unauthorised exemption of fees, the petition stated. In one such case at Carapur in Bicholim, published in the official gazette dated Nov 21, 2024, includes the deletion of a proposed road resulting in 4,214sqm being reclassified as a settlement zone. As per the revised notification, this change should have attracted fees of Rs 1,000 per sqm, amounting to Rs 44.1 lakh, which was improperly waived, Sherlekar submitted in the PIL. The decision for correction of the zone was taken post-March 28, 2024, making the revised rates applicable. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo In another case published in the official gazette dated March 7, 2024, in the same village, also belonging to Rane, the deletion of a proposed road resulted in 17,802 sqm being reclassified as a settlement zone, the petition stated. 'This should have attracted fees of Rs 150 per sqm (as per rates applicable before March 28, 2024, for areas between 10,000 sqmto 20,000 sqm) amounting to Rs 26.7 lakh, which was similarly waived,' Sherlekar submitted through his advocate, Rohit Bras De Sa. The total revenue loss in just these two cases amounts to approximately Rs 69.8 lakh, he stated, adding that there are numerous similar cases of deletion of proposed roads between March 2023 and March 2024, as well as after March 2024, which require scrutiny for similar unauthorised exemptions. 'The fee schedule as notified in the official gazette specifically applies to 'fee for correction of inconsistent/incoherent zoning provisions which amount to change of zone of land to settlement zone or the sub-zone settlement (commercial), per square metre of land,' and there is no notified order on record indicating that removal of proposed roads under Section 17(2) is exempted from payment of fees,' Sherlekar further submitted. 'We have heard the counsel Rohit Bras De Sa in support of the petition, and noted the specific pleadings in the petition, which revolve around the properties belonging to Vishwajit Rane, and a specific allegation is levelled that he benefited from this unauthorised exemption of fees,' stated the division Justices Bharati Dangre and Nivedita Mehta.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
Activists for probe into wildife safari in Kali Tiger Reserve
Conservation activists have expressed concern over tourism promotion through wildlife safari in Kali Tiger Reserve, and have sought a probe into the matter on the grounds that it was in violation of the comprehensive guidelines issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Hanamant, an activist and a law student from Koppal, has issued a notice under Section 55 C of the Wildlife Protection Act, and pointed out that NTCA has prohibited opening up of new areas for tourism and that too in an area which was not part of the tourism zone. According to the complainant, the only approved activities in the ecotourism chapter of the Tiger Conservation Plan of KTR is trekking along specified routes and bird watching. The complainant furnished videos in support of his allegation apart from drawing attention to the social media accounts of the KTR in which safari has been promoted. The official website of the KTR continues to promote the safari on its website till date. Conservationists alleged that these activities, conducted without mandatory approvals from the National Tiger Conservation Authorit y (NTCA), endangered critical tiger habitats and violated multiple laws including the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The complainant highlighted what he described as double standards in forest management and said that while villagers have been relocated from these areas under the pretext of creating inviolate spaces for tigers, the same locations have been opened to tourism. Mr. Hanamant said, 'Forest dwellers who were living for decades are moving out of their homelands as most of the villages have been deprived of basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, mobile network, schools or hospitals, etc., due to stringent laws of the Project Tiger.' On the other hand, the core tiger habitat areas are being opened up for the pleasure of urban tourists, he added. Calling for probe by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the complainant has expressed concerns that even the Karnataka Forest Department authorities have not acted despite submission of numerous complaints in the past. There are also concerns that the safari, which was started without mandatory approvals, may be regularised by including it under the Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP) for KTR, though it was not in the TCP for the period between 2014-2024.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Goa health minister Rane abuses, threatens GMC doc on camera, sparks furore
Panaji: Health minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday directed the immediate suspension of an on-duty chief medical officer (CMO) at Goa Medical College's casualty department. Rane's move followed a complaint alleging that the doctor told a patient to go to an urban health centre to receive an injection. In a video widely shared on social media, Rane is seen telling the senior doctor to 'go home' and 'shut up', and issued directions to 'kick him out of here'. When the doctor tried to respond, Rane told him, 'You are not authorised to speak when I am speaking' and 'first learn to shut up when I am talking to you', before telling him to 'get out from here'. As the doctor tried to reason with the minister, Rane said, 'When I make up my mind, I don't want to listen to you. .. 'Don't open your mouth when I'm talking.' 'You're dealing with me. You want to file a case, file a case,' Rane told the doctor, adding, 'go home before my blood pressure boils'. The video clip angered netizens, who didn't appreciate the minister's 'herogiri' and slammed him. They alleged that while he was preaching to the doctor to serve the poor, as TCP minister, he allegedly serves the rich from Delhi-NCR and Haryana, and thus has no moral right to preach. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Lake Mary: How Much Does It Cost To Install Windows In 2025? Storm Through Windows Learn More Undo Other commentators online said that Rane's frustration stems from a land grabbing case, and said that he should have inspected the TCP and PDA offices and suspended those officials instead. The complaint that sparked the minister's reaction related to a 77-year-old woman and her daughter, relatives of a journalist, who went to GMC on Saturday to receive an injection for the knee. The orthopaedic patient was told she was required to take the injection every day for ten days, Saturday being the fourth day. As OPDs were closed on Saturday, the patient was asked to go to GMC's casualty department, where the CMO allegedly didn't guide the patient properly, and told her to go to the urban health centre for the injection. Rane lectured the doctor on how to talk to patients, and not send them from pillar to post but to guide them properly. He told the doctor he was at GMC to 'serve poor people'. 'However much loaded you are, you will talk properly and guide the patient,' Rane said, addressing the doctor in the casualty department. Rane directed GMC's medical superintendent, Dr Rajesh Patil, to get orders issued to suspend the doctor, and told him to get another CMO to replace him.
San Francisco Chronicle
06-06-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Their Wine Country restaurant is a hot destination. Their new spot is for the locals
The team behind one of Sonoma County's best restaurants will soon open a new, more approachable spot in Petaluma. Named Bijou — 'jewel,' in French — it is the latest from Table Culture Provisions owners Stéphane Saint Louis, Steven Vargas and Marta Saint Louis. At 190 Kentucky St. starting Friday, June 13, diners will find seasonal dishes applying French technique to the North Bay's wealth of seasonal produce, but at a lower price than the group's original restaurant. Table Culture Provisions is beloved by visitors and locals, who often refer to it simply as TCP. But with a tasting menu that runs in the triple digits and can only accommodate around a 10 tables, it's not easily accessible. 'That is a barrier for the community to come in every day, or once a week,' said Saint Louis, who will run the kitchen at the new restaurant while Vargas helms TCP. 'At Bijou, you'll have food at the quality and standard of what we offer at Table Culture Provisions, just more affordable and approachable.' (The restaurant did not provide prices for dishes.) Snacks and shared dishes will include tempura vegetable batons with a green goddess drizzle and sprinkled with malt vinegar powder, and a petit croque monsieur with shaved truffles on top. The Cowgirl x D. Fatti is a rosemary boule from local bakery Della Fattoria hollowed out and stuffed with Cowgirl Creamery's funky-rich Red Hawk cheese that's topped with roasted garlic and a drizzle of honey. The bread's interior is cut into stubby sticks, then fried, the better to dip into the soft cheese. Larger entrees will include a 10-ounce rib eye from San Rafael butchers Flannery Beef in a black peppercorn sauce, cut into thin slivers that give it a classic French bistro feel. A small side of bone marrow truffle fries and a small salad with shaved Parmesan come along with the cut. A Japanese sea bream will be served with a vegetable ragout and a pistachio caper sauce. Hand-made stuffed pastas will rotate frequently, starting with caramelle, pasta bundles with twisted ends akin to a wrapped caramel. These come stuffed with Liberty duck legs cured in a cumin-fennel blend then confited overnight. Staff baste the caramelle with a jus made from duck stock and duck bones that's spiked with a hit of Port. A zigzag of rich crème fraîche and pea tendrils accent the dish. 'I'm just a fan of stuffed pastas and I take pride in making these,' Saint Louis said. He's already looking forward to future pastas such as a tortellini filled with hearty beef cheeks during the colder months of the year, and agnolotti stuffed with locally caught Dungeness crab when the next season begins. Dessert at Bijou from Table Culture Provisions pastry chef Sylvain Parsy includes a mille feuille, the classic French dessert of layered puff pastry and vanilla cream, that's textured with burnt caramel and a ribbon of creme anglaise. A flight of petit fours, assorted bite-sized sweets, will come in triplets or quartets paired with coffee or tea. Once summer strawberries arrive at the restaurant they will go into a tart topped with rhubarb sorbet. Until then, there's a sundae that's topped with shaved almond, cacao nib and a pour of fresh, hot chocolate sauce. Otello Tiano, who led the bar program at San Francisco's Lazy Bear, consulted on Bijou's drinks. The cocktail list will include six original cocktails and six classics with a French inclination, using ingredients like Chartreuse and pastis, a liqueur flavored with anise. Wines will be diverse, with various styles and origins, but with a focus on California. Bijou took over the former home of southern restaurant Easy Rider, known for its fried chicken and mac-and-cheese, which closed in December. The space can accommodate 55 seated diners, making a dinner reservation or a walk-in a lot more feasible than at TCP. Plans are to open every day, except Wednesdays, for dinner service, with regular Sunday brunch. A daytime window, Café Bijou, will offer pastries, sandwiches, salads and a soup du jour, plus coffee using beans from local roaster Petaluma Coffee & Tea Co. Saint Louis described the interior as feeling like 'modern comfort,' with its whitewashed walls, concrete bar and minimalist tables. Exposed brick supports and warm light from metal frame chandeliers help the building a cozier, he said. 'It's my jewel box for the community.'
