the goan I network
Panaji
Clarifying its stand on the 16-B land conversions, which they had said they would “reverse” if found to be illegal, the Congress, on Saturday, said that only land conversion that was done on “suitcase basis” (or fraudulently) would be reversed.
Addressing the press at Congress House, spokesperson Agnelo Fernandes said that the Congress president had been “very clear” about the party’s stand and that the party was not against Goans who had converted land under 16-B, but against “outsiders”.
“We’re not against Goans. We don’t want to go against the church, or any institution,” said Fernandes. “The fear of the Goan people is that outsiders will come and take all our land. We will look into these cases,” he said.
Fernandes also said that he himself had been asked for a “suitcase” with regards to maintaining his hotel as a “commercial area” and not a “residential one.” He questioned why the government was intent on destroying Goa and selling Goa to outsiders, and admitted that the Congress had “made mistakes” in the past, but this was no reason for the government to continue making these same mistakes. “The Congress has made mistakes and paid for them. But you will also pay for the mistakes you’re making,” he said to the government.
Congress president Girish Chodankar had, two days ago, spoken about the Congress’ stand on 16-B. Condemning what they called the “large scale land conversions” that have been taking place under Section 16-B of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, the Congress came down heavily on the TCP Department.
Saying that if they were elected to power, they would scrutinise each and every case of land conversion that has taken place, Chodankar said that they would reverse these, if they found that the conversions were done illegally.
Chodankar said that a committee would be formed under architect Tulio D’Souza, and the committee would look at each case where permission for conversion was given on a “suitcase to suitcase” basis.
He alleged that meetings to decide land conversion on ‘suitcase basis’ were held in a bungalow near Circuit House, Altinho. “Land conversion is taking place overnight at the discretion of the Minister and the TCP Board. Moreover, the TCP Department is advertising through the media, motivating those interested to come forth and convert their land. This when there are 8,000 pending objections to land conversions and a case pending in court.”
Former Congress minister Aleixo
hails Sec 16-B amendment
MARGAO: Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vijai Sardesai has received appreciation from former Congress Minister Aleixo Sequeira and Fr Diego Fernandes for coming out with the 16-B Amendment and giving relief to them and many Goans whose land was arbitrarily changed to orchard zone from settlement in the Regional Plan 2021.
In fact, Aleixo said he is ashamed to say that a fraud was committed by the former Congress government of which he was a Minister, for the arbitrary change in zones from settlement to orchard in the RP 21.
When the media sought his comment on the claim made by TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai that he is a beneficiary of the 16-B Amendment, Aleixo pointed out that three properties belonging to him and his family, which were in settlement zone were all shown as orchard in the RP21 without any rhyme or reason. One of these plots even had the conversion sanads obtained long ago, but the zone was changed from settlement to orchard in the RP21. “I had three plots adjacent to my resort at Colva, which were shown as settlement. However, the plot admeasuring 1575 was surprisingly shown as orchard in the RP21,” he said. Similar was the case, he said regarding the property belonging to his brother at Raia, which was not only shown as settlement, but had a conversion sanad. “The third property at Nuvem admeasuring 23,500 square metres was also shown as orchard in the RP21 when it was already in the settlement in the earlier plan,” he added.
Demanding to know the criteria adopted by the TCP on the change in zones, when the government of the day promised to meet the old commitments, Aleixo said he was forced to go to the TCP Board to get the zone changed. “I appreciate what Vijai Sardesai has done. But, one has to follow the process. TCP and other officials have inspected the property at Colva and they have seen for themselves the injustice done to me,” he said.
Aleixo has appealed to the people of Goa to check the zones of their property since the zones of many a property was changed in the RP21 without the knowledge of the owners.
