ODP scrutiny has revealed shocking irregularities: Vishwajit Rane

PANAJI: The town and country planning department’s scrutiny committee, which was tasked with identifying irregularities in the outline development plans (ODPs), has found several “shocking” irregularities, particularly in the Parra-Arpora-Nagoa ODP, said TCP minister Vishwajit Rane.
Rane’s statement could spell further trouble for opposition leader Michael Lobo. Rane said that a former chairman of the North Goa planning and development authority misused his authority to convert their own land. As BJP’s Calangute MLA in the previous government, Lobo served as NGPDA chairman prior to his induction into the cabinet by the earlier Pramod Sawant cabinet in 2019.
“Some people at high-level positions, former chairmen of the PDA who were instrumental in preparing the ODPs have converted their own properties while holding office,” said Rane.
“It amounts to (liability for) prosecution under the Prevention and Corruption Act for using public office for personal gains. Several such irregularities have also been identified in the ODP of Nagao, Parra, and others, where high-rise buildings have been approved without having proper access.”
Rane also said that the 10-member scrutiny committee has noticed that several tenanted and khazan lands have been converted, along with no-development slopes that exceed the 35% gradient permissible limit.
“It's interesting to compare the Calangute-Candolim ODP to the newly-created ODP. These irregularities are shocking to say the least,” said Rane. “All information, survey number by survey number, will be shared once the committee has completed its review.”
Prior to the February 14 assembly elections, Lobo ditched BJP and joined Congress. After Rane took charge of the TCP department, he immediately called for all ODPs to be suspended and scrutinized. A committee headed by chief town planner Rajesh Naik has been asked to probe the ODP formulation process.
Lobo already has an FIR registered against him and his wife for allegedly engaging in hill cutting and land filling.
“It is important to have planning consultants on board to monitor such wrongdoings. I am confident that the committee headed by the chief town planner will make necessary changes to protect Goa’s uniqueness while also maintaining total transparency in the department of TCP,” said Rane.
Rane said that details of all the irregularities, including the survey numbers, will be shared once the committee completes its review within the stipulated time frame of 60 days. The committee has met just once to scrutinise the ODPs.
“It is worth noting that several wrongdoings have been highlighted by the committee. In the interest of the state and to preserve its uniqueness, it is necessary to correct these wrongdoings,” said Rane.