2 sections of TCP Act challenged in high court

Panaji: Pilerne Citizens Forum has challenged Sections 17(2) and 39(A) of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act in the high court, with the forum telling the media that green zones are “illegally converted” with these provisions.

“The court has admitted our application, and the hearing is scheduled to take place on Thursday,” said Prakash Bandodkar, the forum’s convener. He said the forum has pleaded with the court to scrap these two sections and direct govt to formulate a new Regional Plan for the state.

“We had previously filed a petition challenging Section 16(B) of the TCP Act, which was introduced by govt to facilitate land conversion,” Bandodkar said. “Despite the court’s pending verdict on the matter, govt went ahead and introduced new enabling provisions, 17(2) and 39(A). Govt is out to destroy Goa.”

Bandodkar alleged that govt has facilitated the conversion of 3 lakh sqm of land in the Saligao constituency under Section 17(2) of the TCP Act. He said the converted land includes agricultural fields and hills, whose zones have been changed to accommodate various projects.