VASCO
A division bench of the Bombay High Court at Goa on Wednesday issued notice on a PIL filed by NGOs and citizens from Chicalim and Dabolim, challenging the legality of the Vasco Land Use Register and Map.In a press note, Chicalim Bio-Crusaders Convenor Cyril Fernandes said the PIL writ petition challenged the resolution of the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA) adopting the Land Use Register and Map (LURM) for the Vasco Planning Area, notified in the Goa Gazette dated December 5, 2019 under Section 27 of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act.
Besides challenging the order on the grounds that no such provision exists in the Town and Country Planning Act, Fernandes said the present PIL also challenges the actual Land Use Map and Register prepared and adopted by the MPDA.
“The challenge is based on several grounds, including gross errors in the Land Use Map and Register, serious violation of norms laid down in the Act, arbitrary and colourable exercise of power, large scale manipulations carried out at the behest of the real estate lobby, the exercise being contrary to public interest, environmental and town planning norms, and affecting petitioners’ right to a planned environment under Article 21 of the Constitution.”
“The petitioners include Edwin Mascarenhas, Pratap Mardolkar, Cynthia Miranda, together with NGOs, Chicalim Villagers Action Committee, Chicalim Bio-Crusaders and the Goa Foundation. The respondents include the State government, chief town planner and the MPDA. The matter is posted for further hearing to January 11, 2022,” said Fernandes.
