MARGAO
Change in the zone of tenanted land in the jurisdiction of Margao Municipal Council has now come to haunt the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) and the powers that be.
If the zone of an open space believed to be tenanted land has been changed to commercial in the ODP 2028 by the SGDPA, a similar change in the zone of tenanted field of a former BJP minister’s family, near the Margao railway station, has been reportedly shown in the ODP.
While the comunidade of Aquem has taken the zone change of the tenanted field at Margao to court, the comunidade of Margao has now knocked on the doors of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vishwajit Rane, seeking his intervention to put in place the grave illegality and abuse of power by the SGPDA in the ODP 2028.
Sources in the comunidade of Margao informed The Goan that they are conducting inquiries as to whether the PDA has changed zones of tenanted lands in the ODP.
In his letter to the TCP Minister, Attorney to the comunidade of Margao Celestino Noronha has made a fervent plea to the Minister to inquire into the matter and revert the zoning of the low-lying paddy field to the original “Open Space”.
He further stated that the peculiar facts and circumstances also call for a vigilance inquiry.
“The comunidade of Margao is the owner of the tenanted low-lying agricultural field along Margao-Colva MDR. We were shocked and surprised to find that the zoning of the property in question was converted from “Open Space” to “Commercial C-1” by SGPDA without there being any request neither from the owner i.e. the comunidade nor anyone else. No objection or suggestion was received for a change of zone. Hence, it was not considered or recommended by the Sub-Committee,” Noronha said.
He added: “However, totally out of the blue, the SGPDA at its 76th meeting on February 28, 2019, converted the zoning from ‘Open Space” to “Commercial C1” at the instance of a ghost applicant. The comunidade of Margao had specifically called upon SGPDA in writing not to consider any change of zoning of comunidade lands without hearing the comunidade.”
Noronha further went on to draw the TCP Minister’s attention to the fact that taking undue advantage of the situation, the low-lying paddy field in question has been filled with earth and several permanent and temporary constructions have been erected thereon for commercial purposes.
Interestingly, a glance at the 76th meeting of the SGPDA states that the then member secretary informed the members that no tenanted land is permitted for development and the same shall be guided by the Goa Land Use (Regulation Act 1991).
Incidentally, the PDA at the same meeting unanimously resolved that if any zoning of such tenanted land is converted inadvertently, the same shall be reviewed at the time of secondary development.
President of Margao comunidade Savio Correia has begged to differ with the SGPDA’s unanimous resolution on tenanted land.
“What made the SGPDA change the zone of the tenanted land if the change in zone will be reviewed at the time of secondary development. The PDA has deliberately left these loopholes knowing well that after some years, people will forget that particular land was once upon a time tenanted property,” Correia said.
