PANJIM: The State Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to drop the controversial Section 16 B of Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, and to insert a provision in the Act, to allow alteration or modification of the Regional Plan or the Outline Development Plan (ODP), for carrying out change of zone of any land after giving notice of 30 days and inviting suggestions and objections regarding the change of zone from citizens.As per the proposal, a provision will be inserted in the Goa Town and Country Planning Act, 1974.This will permit alteration or modification of the Regional Plan or the Outline Development Plan(ODP) for carrying out change of zone of any land after giving notice of 30 days and inviting suggestions and objections regarding the change of zone from citizens.However, such change of zones will not be permitted in respect of eco-sensitive zones. Incidentally, in August last year those who had applied for conversion under the controversial Section 16B of the TCP Act had the option to apply for correction under Section 17(2) of the Act.Using Section 17 (2) ‘inadvertent errors’ in zones in Regional Plan 2021 are ‘corrected’ after the land owner applies for correction in zone.
Section 16B of the TCP Act was introduced in 2018 when Vijai Sardesai was the TCP minister. The matter is currently pending before the High Court of Bombay at Goa for final hearing and order.TCP ACT: 16B OUT BUT CHANGE OF ZONE STILL IN
