PANAJI
The Minister for Town and Country Planning (TCP) Vishwajit Rane on Friday called on Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed the issue pertaining to the buffer zone around the naval base.
Currently as per Central government order, it is mandatory to get permission from the naval authorities to construct any structure within 500 metres of a naval base.
Rane said that he discussed issues regarding the buffer are around the Dabolim airport and other issues related to the town and country planning.
Rane’s visit comes almost a month after a Goa Minister’s delegation led by the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had met Singh in New Delhi and requested to downsize the buffer zone around the naval base from 500 meters to 50 metres distance from the naval compound.
Singh had even assured the delegation to resolve the issue pertaining to the Naval NOC for construction, shortly. The delegation consisted of Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte and Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade.
The Union Defence Minister had assured that he would hold a meeting with the Naval Chief within a fortnight for an appropriate decision.
