TCP reconverts 16,000 sqm fields, green cover for devpt

PANAJI: Goa’s green cover and paddy fields have started shrinking as the town and country planning (TCP) department this week reconverted over 16,000 sqm of paddy fields and natural cover in Bardez, Ponda and Salcete talukas into settlement zone as a “correction” to the Regional Plan 2021.
TCP minister Vishwajit Rane had earlier said 6 crore sqm of land was “erroneously” shown as no settlement zone and had pledged to reconvert them to settlement zones so that construction activities can take place.
Though there have been widespread protests by planners, architects and activists over the “arbitrary manner” in which the TCP department has gone ahead with its reconversion plan, Rane has stood his ground and dismissed them.
Standing behind an amendment passed by the Pramod Sawant government in January this year to allow reconversion due to “inadvertent errors”, Rane has claimed that these land belonging to poor people were converted into orchards, no settlement zones and natural cover depriving them to put their land to developable use.
The reconversion of over 16,000 sqm was done by the TCP department after it received applications for correction of “inconsistent and incoherent zoning” provisions in the Regional Plan 2021. As per the amendment to the Goa Town and Country Planning Act 1974, the government can make changes to the decadal regional plan if they are convinced that they are due to “inadvertent errors”.
Chief town planner (planning) Rajesh Naik said after scrutinising the application, the department was convinced and had forwarded it to the government — which incidentally is overseen by Rane as the minister — to make necessary changes and reconvert them.
“The government has considered the reports and it is of the opinion that alteration or modification is necessary to be carried out to the RP-2021 for the purpose of rectifying inadvertent error that has occurred in the RP-2021 and it has directed the chief town planner (planning) to carry out the changes to the RP-2021 for correcting/rectifying the zone,” Naik said.
He said the department, as directed by the government, has altered or modified the Regional Plan 2021 so that the paddy fields and natural cover could be used for development purposes.