PANAJI
Former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Justice (Retired) Ferdino Rebello, on Thursday met Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and personally handed over the 10 demands of the Citizens’ Charter adopted at a consultative meeting held on Tuesday at the Institute Menezes Braganza.
Rebello urged the Chief Minister to take quick steps to protect Goa’s fragile environment.
A key demand is the withdrawal of a controversial Town and Country Planning circular that allows construction on sloping land. Rebello warned that this could seriously harm Goa’s forests and hills.
The circular, issued on September 6, 2023, by the Town Planner, permits development that changes the shape of hills and forest slopes.
Speaking to the media later, Rebello said he told the Chief Minister that the TCP Department has no power under Section 17A of the Act to issue such directions.
“Development should not come at the cost of the people,” he said, adding that unchecked permissions would cause permanent damage.
He asked for all approvals given under the circular to be suspended and said construction should follow the official maps prepared by the Surveyor General of India, not private plans.
The Citizens’ Charter also repeats the demand to scrap Sections 17(2) and 39A of the TCP Act, which activists say allow arbitrary planning decisions.
Rebello said all ten demands are practical and can be implemented. “We showed the Chief Minister the circular and the law and explained that the Town Planner has no right to issue such directions. He listened patiently and understood our point,” Rebello said.
He also raised concerns over private architects being allowed to prepare alternative terrain maps, with the TCP Department issuing certificates based on these instead of official surveys. “This practice weakens planning and encourages uncontrolled development. This circular will put Goa’s forests in danger,” he warned.
Chief Minister Sawant said he had received the representation but did not commit to any action. “I will go through it and then I will see,” he said, adding that a decision would be taken after a detailed review.
