THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
The Congress party has exposed Accountant General (Audit) Goa report that has flagged a potential revenue loss of Rs 2,147.12 crore to the State exchequer over the Town and Country Planning department’s decision to grant additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to 321 commercial establishments without levying any fee.
The audit observations, dated June 9, 2025, which were circulated to media during the press conference, pertains to the grant of additional FAR and height to commercial establishments through the TCP Board. The audit found that a total additional FAR of 10,73,559.53 sq mtrs had been granted to 321 commercial establishments till April 2025, with the additional FAR ranging from 1.54 per cent to 240 per cent.
Citing massive scam, Congress President Girish Chodankar has demanded a detailed investigation into the scam alleging the involvement of Chief Minister, TCP Minister and other top officials. “We will file official complaint before the competent authority including Lokayukta for necessary action. It is open and shut case of corruption,” he said while announcing to draft a consultative Regional Plan 2028 within one year of coming to power.
The Audit pointed out that the department, through a corrigendum issued in August 2023 removed the earlier ceiling on the extent of additional FAR and height that could be granted on a case-to-case basis. However, no provision for levy of fees for such additional FAR and height was inserted.
The audit pointed out that while the regulations prescribed a fee of Rs 20,000 per sq mtrs for granting additional FAR of 20 per cent to four- and five-star hotels, no fee provision was available for additional FAR granted to the 321 commercial establishments. As a result, the establishments were granted additional FAR without payment of any fee, the audit observed.
The Finance Department subsequently directed the TCP to charge an additional Rs 1,000 per sq mtrs on the additional FAR and height granted. Based on this rate, the audit calculated a revenue loss of Rs 107.36 crore.
However, when the additional FAR of 10,73,559.53 square metres is calculated at the Rs 20,000 per sq mtrs rate, the potential revenue loss works out to Rs 2,147.12 crore.
The audit has also questioned the Rs 1,000-per-square-metre rate, observing that it was minimal and that no slabs had been prescribed for different categories, including individuals and commercial establishments.
The audit has therefore termed Rs 107.36 crore as the minimum revenue loss, while the potential loss based on the Rs 20,000-per-square-metre benchmark stands at Rs 2,147.12 crore.
The department informed the audit that the matter was under process and that the additional fee was yet to be notified in the Gazette. The Accountant General has sought confirmation of the facts and figures and a reply from the department.
