Panaji: Admitting that the Major Port Authorities Bill, which has been tabled in Parliament, will supercede Goa’s planning laws, the state government said that it is examining the bill so that Goa’s concerns could be raised before the Centre.
Town and country planning minister Chandrakant Kavalekar, also admitted that Goa would lose revenue ideally owed to the state for the development that is undertaken in certain zones.
“The likely implications include redundancy of Goa Town & Country Planning Act and the Regional Plan or outline development plans, Goa Municipalities Act, Goa Panchayat Raj Act, Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulations, 2010 and Goa Land Revenue Code,” said Kavalekar.
“The matter is being examined by the government for apprising the Union government,” Kavalekar told Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco in a written statement.
Kavalekar said that areas in the periphery of Mormugao Port Trust could come under the “ownership” of the Board which will be constituted under the Major Ports Authorities Bill and this in turn will lead to “revenue loss” for the state government.
Lourenco claims that the Major Port Authorities Bill has the potential to “usurp powers” of the Goa government and local bodies, particularly powers related to land use and planning.
Vasco-based activist, Savio Correia has raised similar apprehensions and his concerns, which were submitted in writing to the state government were conveyed to the Captain of Ports.
“The government has examined its likely impact on the powers of state and local bodies,” said Kavalekar.