the goan I network
MAPUSA
Vouching for planned development, Urban Development Minister and Mapusa MLA Francisco D’Souza on Saturday said the government has put the wheels of the unique Town Planning Scheme (TPS) into motion in Mapusa, for the first time in the State.
“This is a legal scheme where all the land is taken by the government in its possession and after developing it, one part is given to the stakeholder (land owner), one part is used for infrastructure development and one part will be retained by the government,” said D’Souza, while addressing a news conference at his residence on Saturday.
As reported in The Goan, the government has appointed a task force to prepare and implement the TPS under the chairmanship of former MMC chairperson and present councilor, Sudhir Kandolkar, and five others as members.
The preparation of TPS will be carried out as per Section 56 of the TCP Act.
The scheme is prepared by involving the land owners as per the relevant section of the TCP Act from Section 56 to 98 under the control of the government.
Explaining the intricacies of the scheme, the urban development minister said the government was taking the land from the land owners without land acquisition process, but in return will be developing the land and giving it to stakeholders on a pre-determined land ratio policy framed by the government.
“Nobody should think all the land is going only for construction. Proper infrastructure such as roads, sewage, electricity, open spaces, community facilities, etc will be developed,” he said.
He said community projects like Kala Mandir, warehouse, inter-state bus terminal, etc could be taken up. Some government offices, schools could also be relocated.
“Everything will be done as per the law. Nothing illegal is being done here,” the Mapusa MLA reiterated.
Around 2,500 farmers are tenants on the vacant land in the area, of which 102 farmers have given NOC for the scheme.
