THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA: The government on Thursday was forced to eat humble pie on the floor of the House and declare that it would not grant future construction permissions based on old “illegal” Outline Development Plans (ODP) in the three cities of Panaji, Mapusa and Vasco.
The assurance came after the Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat tore into the preparation of old ODPs for the three cities which he said were prepared by violating the Town and Country Planning Act.
Exposing the illegalities in the preparation of the ODP, Digambar said after government approves the draft ODP the TCP department has to appoint a three member sub-committee who has power to co-op one more member as per the Act.
“In Panaji and Mapusa, the sub-committees were formed with five members which is clearly against the rules of the TCP Act,” he said.
“As if the formation of the five-member sub-committees wasn’t enough, the authority co-opted another member which again is a violation. The authority cannot co-opt. It has to be done by the sub-committee,” Kamat pointed out.
TCP Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar had no alternative but admit in the House the violation of rules while formation of the sub-committees and the appointment of the co-opted members.
The Leader of the Opposition said the former TCP minister had assured the House that he would scrap the previous ODPs and order new Outline Development Plans.
“The government has issued an order directing preparation of new ODPs for Panaji, Mapusa and Vasco by strictly following the rules and regulations. But there is no order stating that old ODPs have been scrapped,” he said.
Kalvlekar said that the former TCP minister had not said he will scrap the ODPs but revise it.
“Following those instructions, we have given order to revise the ODPs,” the TCP minister said.
Kamat brought to the attention of the minister that there were three writ petitions against the old Panaji ODP in the High Court and any adverse judgment in the matter could have widespread ramification.
Incidentally, the Tenants Association of Camarcazana Bundh has also filed a writ petition in the High Court against the Mapusa ODP.
“Those ODPs are prepared illegally. Why do you want to revise it? If the HC says those ODPs are null and void what will you do then? Before you start revision, take a decision on the illegally prepared ODPs. They will be 100 percent struck down,” Kamat said.
Intervening in the discussion, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the new ODPs will be done by following the rules.
“The government is a continuous process. If the former TCP has given a word that we will revise the ODPs then I am assuring that we will revise the ODPs and the new ODPs will be done as per the rules,” Sawant said.
An unrelenting Leader of Opposition urged the government to stop implementing the old ODPs from today and that no approval should be given based on old ODPs.
“As per the ODP approved for Panaji in December 2016 special FAR 3 has been declared for commercial purpose and special FAR 2 for residential purpose. Like this, Panaji and Mapusa will have serious problems,” he said.
He further said a lot of such permissions have been given based on old ODP in Panaji.
“35,000 sq mt of land in Panaji has been zoned as special commercial. That means FAR 3 will be applicable. The built up area will then be 1 lakh sq meter. The city will go completely out of control,” Kamat exclaimed.
Finally, Sawant agreed not to issue permissions based on the 2016 ODP.
The Leader of Opposition then cautioned the government not to come under pressure while preparing the new ODPs.
“We are not doing anything under pressure. There is no pressure on us,” the CM retorted.
