PANAJI
Considered one of the most corrupt and controversial government departments, the Town and Country Planning Department is seemingly headed for a functional overhaul with TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane taking guard and announcing multiple changes related to construction licensing as well as planning processes in its functioning.
For starters, the proposal to permit architects and engineers accredited by the TCP department to self-attest plans of constructions up to 500 square meters of built-up area will go online from May 1, Rane said.
“There will be no need to go to the PDA or Town Planning. You can directly get it self-attested, pay the fees online and submit it,” Rane told the media after chairing the Town & Country Planning Board meeting since taking charge of the TCP portfolio.
Rane said this will reduce the workload on the TCP and the PDAs which can then focus on planning, policy, town planning and other aspects.
He added that depending on the experience of the first three months, the self-attestation of construction plans could possibly be extended for larger projects.
Another significant provision sought to be introduced by Rane is the ‘deeming provision’ for the grant of licences.
Rane said, if files pertaining to permissions for areas up to 2,000 square meters fail to get cleared by the TCP department or the PDAs within three weeks (21 days), it will be deemed that it is approved.
This deeming provision will require an amendment to the TCP Act and Rane said the department is moving in that direction.
“We are moving for the amendment under the Town and Country Planning Act,” Rane said, adding that for larger projects beyond 2,000 square meters, the deeming provision will be for 45 days.
Rane also said that from May 1, the TCP department will be equipped with an online file tracking system. With this system, the applicants will be able to check the status of their files online.
