TG: From the time RP is notified and now abeyances how manybuilders were given NOC?
STP: I don’t have the records with me off hand, aspermissions are not granted by my office. But I can say that we have savedeco-sensitive land to the tune of 7.62 crore square metres.
TG: So what is this abeyance now, an interim arrangement?Can’t there be a possibility of pre-dating proposals?
STP: We have very clearly spelt out things. This is aninterim arrangement till the finalisation. Only there is a time frame untilwhich this system will work.
TG: Weren’t already notified ODPs superimposed on RP 2021,leaving no scope for its valuation in the context of draft RP 2021? You evenleft large swathes of government land out of the ambit of RP 2021.
STP: Yes, but it was per provision.
TG: How then was permission granted for a waste managementplant behind the Heera Petrol Pump?
STP: There are two ODPs “ Panjim and Taleigao. There was anerror that was rectified later. The man who owns land will be happy as long asI do what he likes.
TG: But your initiative came when the damage was alreadycaused…
STP: What can I do? I had not come here 35 years ago. We hadan opportunity and we are trying to take it. Even mining in the state hasdamaged and one could not do anything. ODPs before 2011 should have beendissolved. All permission granted cannot be reverted back. I don’t think thatanything can be done to buildings that have already come up. We cannot doanything legally retrospective.
TG: How can a policeman write the law? Isn’t it a matter ofconvenience that an implementing agency should be part of formulating the law?
STP: PDA (Planning and development agency) is not apoliceman as plans are approved by government. RP is done by someone else. Ifyou take both the plans (draft and notified) you will notice two sets ofsignatures, where three signatures are repeated. The reason is that they havesigned up as member of committee and also as a signatory of government.
TG: Precisely our point. You yourself formulated the plansand also now continue to give permissions under that?
STP: That you have to ask the government why it appointed assuch.
TG: Yes and the fact that the SLC that decided upon final RP2021 had three people belonging to real estate business, whose plan permissionsmay have also been with your office...
STP: Dean D’Cruz was on board as he was representing anorganisation. His house is being used as an official address of GBA. The othertwo are professionals. I’m not saying whether it is good or bad. I do not haveright to comment as it was government decision to put them on panel.
TG: How fair do you think is the RP 2021 in law?
STP: We have taken the utmost care. And please bear in mindthat permissions are not being given just by seeing that the proposal standsthe test of RP 2021 and RP 2001 but also that it confers with other laws suchas Tenancy Act, Environmental Laws, etc .
TG: You mean to say that despite RP 2021 having ODP 2011superimposed on it, the laws are being stuck to?
STP: Yes of course.
TG: Why then does the Mormugao ODP have a garbage zone in ahighly eco-sensitive CRZ 1 area? You yourself have told The Goan in the pastthat the high rise adjacent to Goa Shipyard Limited is a cause for concern asit falls under the Works of Defence Act area. Why did the TCP not act on suchblatant blunders?
STP: (pauses) I am not aware. (pauses again) This needs tobe investigated.
TG: Permissions continue to be granted under RP 2021 by PDAswho have members having real estate interests...
STP: TCP act has a provision, wherein if there is a matterpertaining to a PDA member then he has to go out during the matter.
TG: Isn’t that a naïve assumption?
STP: (smiles no answer)
TG: Has there been a major conflict due to RP 2021 abeyance?
STP: Not at all. The notification is very clear what we canand what we can’t. Permissions will be granted accordingly.
