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| | | | | Comments On News Reports | | | Things that a citizen of Goa should know - Thanks to Miguel Braganza
----- Original Message -----
From: Miguel Braganza
To: SAVE GOA
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2010 2:59 PM
Subject: [Gulf Goans] T.E.A.M. works: Success has a thousand fathers ...but just one mother!
Dears,
The Government Order No. 36/1/TCP/2010/1634 dated 17 March, 2010 issued by the Chief Town Planner & Ex-officio Joint Secretary to the Govt. of Goa on the recommendation of the Goa TCP Board at its 136th meeting on 16 April [i.e. one day after the GBA delegation met the CM for the third time to follow up on the memorandum of 04 March, 2010] has constituted a Committee headed by the Secretary [TCP] with the CTP as Member-Secretary to review references made by the Zonal TCP offices to the CTP regarding development in paddy fields, forests or mangroves marked by oversight in the RP 2001 [now in force by default] as settlement or industrial zones. This Committee has Architect Bryan Soares and Shri Datta Kare [both members of the TCP Board] and Architect Rahul Deshpande as the other ‘non-official’ members.
Another order has been issued on 17 May, 2010, as per the decision of the TCP Committee on 03 May, 2010 meeting chaired by the CM, constituting the “Flying Squads” to issue on the spot “Stop Work” orders where hill cutting or land filling is being done without displaying a board stating the permissions from TCP to do so and where copies of these documents/NOCs are not produced on demand at site. The annexure to the order specifies that the Flying Squad will get the work stopped immediately and refer the case to the Senior Town Planner [North or South Goa] for follow up action as per law. The Flying Squad is specifically empowered to ensure that the work of hill cutting and/or land filling is stopped immediately.
The North Goa Collector has constituted a Flying Squad headed by Deputy Collector Mr. Francis Ferrao for this purpose and announced the contact phone numbers in addition to the Toll Free 1077 [See report in GT of 22 May, 2010]. South Goa District Collector has designated one Additional District Magistrate to head the Flying Squad assisted by Deputy Collectors on rotation.[See report in the Herald, pasted below] The details, including the names of Deputy Collectors on duty each day and their respective mobile phone numbers, are awaited.
The GBA has demanded that the “Flying Squads” should be at work 24 x 7 as hill cutting and land filling goes on whenever the authorities are not at work. Currently, the Flying Squads are available only during office hours and touring around their jurisdiction on holidays.
Mog asundi
Miguel
EXTRACT OF GOA TCP ACT, 1974
[ Amended in 1997 vide Act No 22 and Official Gazette Sr.I No 26 of 25/9/97]
17-A Prohibition of cutting of Hilly land and filling up of low lying land, etc: No occupier of any hilly or slopy land or any low lying land shall, by himself or through his servants or agents or any other persons, undertake the work of cutting of any hilly or slopy land, or filling of any low lying land in , over or upon any hilly or slopy land, as the case may be, without obtaining the prior written permission of the Chief Town Planner
Explanation:
For the purpose of Section 17-A
i) "low lying land" means and includes any land below 50 cms or more from adjoining ground level
ii) "Hilly land or slopy land" means and includes any land having a gradient of 1:10 or more
17-B Penalty for contravention of Section 17-A:
1) Whosoever contravenes or abetsthe contravention of any of the provisions of Section 17A, shall be punishable with a simple imprisonment for a period which may extend to one year or a fine which may not be less than Rs.1.00 lakh or with both
2) An offence under this section shall be cognizable.
‘Flying squads’ ready to ‘fly’: S Goa Magistrate
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MAY 27
After coming in for strong criticism from NGOs and village groups, South Goa District Magistrate, G P Naik on Thursday said the “flying squads” are ready to fly to various destinations in the district in respect of complaints on illegal land filling and hill cutting.
After a meeting with Deputy Collectors and Sub-Divisional Magistrate from South Goa, the District Magistrate has said the functioning of the flying squad has been fine tuned with the appointment of the Additional District Magistrate to monitor and oversee its functioning.
He further said that a dedicated vehicle, besides computer have been made available at the disposal of the flying squad, especially in the district Collectorate for immediately action. “Anyone with a complaint on illegal land filling and hill cutting can call on the number 1077 and see the functioning of the flying squad”, he said.
Naik said the district administration has taken certain steps to streamline the functioning of the flying squads and exuded confidence that the squads will meet the desired purpose.
When it was brought to his notice that the rotation of the deputy collectors heading the flying squads will hit the system, Naik said the deputy collectors have agreed for the rotation system, adding that the Additional District Magistrate will step in and coordinate if any of the deputy collector is absence or on leave.
Replying to a question, he said the flying squad has the brief to only stop the illegal work of land filling and hill cutting by issuing stop work orders. “It is then for the TCP department to immediately lodge a FIR with the police to give effect to the action”, he added.
http://www.oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/lsquo-Flying-squads-rsquo-ready-to-lsquo-fly-rsquo-S-Goa-Magistrate/37260.html
Orlim villagers cry foul over inspection of mega project
HERALD REPORTER
Orlim villagers cry foul over inspection of mega project
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MAY 26
Orlim villagers cried foul over the inspection carried out at the mega housing project on Wednesday and has asked the village sarpanch to immediately issue stop-work order and revoke the construction license issued to the builder.
Meanwhile, the Colva police led by PSI Sudesh Velip also visited the mega housing construction site to conduct panchanama under section 17-A of the Town and Country Planning Act.
The Panchanama follows the case registered by the police against the builder under section 17-A of the TCP Act following a letter from the Town Planner Rajesh Naik.
http://www.oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/Orlim-villagers-cry-foul-over-inspection-of-mega-project/37249.html
GBA asks for details on flying squads
GBA asks for details on flying squads. Demands written several assurances from CM
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MAY 4
Goa Bachao Abhiyan is not too happy with the decision of the Government to form flying squads to respond to illegal hill-cutting, filling of low-lying land and other violations and have sought more details about the same.
GBA mentioned they were all for flying squads but questioned the Government if it was serious then where were the details of the same. If the Government is serious then why hasn’t it released the initial details like who will be the persons to be contacted during any violation? it questioned.
GBA Secretary Reboni Saha said the GBA was convinced the announcement of flying squads was a damp squib given the fact nothing much has happened after the first assurance was given by the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on March 4, 2010, that the Regional Plan would be complete in six months.
In a press statement issued here, the GBA reminded that the Goa TCP Act, 1974, was itself not in sync with Article 243, especially Article 243G, 243N & 243ZD and the Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules there under.
The statement adds further, “The process of revoking and replacing, or at least amending, the said Act is imperative. The only progress made here is in the change of the Chairperson of the Review Committee. The Goa Law Commission, which was entrusted with the review of this Act, is not known to have done anything even in the context of the Section 16 & 16A amended in March, 2008 itself.”
The GBA demanded that the constitution of a committee to propose the amendments to the outdated Goa, Daman & Diu Town & Country Planning Act, 1974 need to be published in the Official Gazette for the information of the aggrieved public.
It reminded that although the draft Regional Plan was notified in October 2008 and the village panchayats had submitted the village plans to the Goa TCP Department on June 15, 2009, or thereabout, there was no official notification about the final Draft Regional Plan for Goa 2021. The assurance of the CM on March 27, 2010, in the Goa Legislative Assembly was the only tangible progress since March 4, it mentioned.
The statement of GBA chides the Government on taluka Plans of Pernem and Canacona. “The plans have not been made public by March 31, 2010 as committed on March 4, nor by the revised date of April 30, 2010 and we have serious apprehensions that the process for the eleven talukas will not be completed by September, 2010, if there is no fixed schedule specified to the Chief Town Planner who by law has to get the RP for Goa prepared under his control and direction. The Government is mum on this subject,” it mentions.
It again reminded that the various groups, CSOs and NGOs who actively participated in the village level planning process and in the structured meeting on April 21, 2010, have expressed utter disgust at the delaying tactics adopted by the Government that claimed to represent the “aam aadmi”.
The GBA warned in the obvious failure to keep up to its assurances, the Government of Goa will have to assume full responsibility for the unforeseen consequences in future.
http://www.oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/GBA-asks-for-details-on-flying-squads/36526.html
Flying squads to swoop on illegal hill cutters
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MAY 3
Bowing to pressure from Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) and village groups, the Goa government on Monday decided to constitute two flying squads headed by deputy collectors for responding to calls on illegal hill-cutting and filling of low-lying land in North and South Goa districts separately.
This decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and attended by Secretary (Town and Planning) Raajiv Yadhuvanshi who is also secretary to the CM, Chief Town Planner, Morad Ahmad, Nodal Officer, Regional Plan, Sanjit Rodrigues and Deputy Town Planner Vinod Kumar, according to an official press statement issued here.
In Monday’s meeting though the decision to set up district-level `flying squads’ has been taken, the modalities are yet to be finalised. “The nitty-gritty is to be seen for effective implementation”, said a member of GBA when contacted. “It is not just the question of responding to the calls on illegal hill-cutting and filling of low lying lands, but the stress should be on stopping such activities.”
The other two demands which were placed before Yadhuvanshi at the secretariat meeting, included public announcement of the freeze on development in the NDZ (no development zone) and ESZ (eco sensitive zone) including cultivable paddy fields, steep hill slopes, mangroves, creeks etc and holding all NOCs and permissions under amended Section 16 & 16 A of TCP Act in abeyance till the finalization of RP 2021.
On Monday, the government also decided to constitute a special committee having legal experts under the chairmanship of commissioner and secretary (TCP) to review the TCP Act, 1974 amended from time to time.
This follows strong objection raised by GBA and others to the appointment of Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho as the chairman of the committee.
The government has also decided to release additional funds and appointed technical assistants for expeditiously completion of the Regional Plan-2021. Further the government decided to respond to the various advertisements through media giving the wrong picture of the projects approved as and when brought to the notice of the government.
The government has constituted a committee for safeguarding the Eco-Sensitive concept, the official press release concluded.
http://www.oheraldo.in/news/Main%20Page%20News/Flying-squads-to-swoop-on-illegal-hill-cutters/36485.html
Squads to check hill cutting, land filling
TNN, May 4, 2010, 04.50am IST Tags:Government|flying squad
PANAJI: The government has decided to constitute and induct a flying squad for each district to respond to calls on illegal hill cutting and filling of low-lying land. Sources said each flying squad will be headed by a deputy collector and comprise officials from the police, town and country planning and survey departments.
This was decided at a meeting chaired by CM Digambar Kamat and attended by secretary (town and country planning) Raajiv Yaduvanshi, chief town planner Morad Ahmed and others.
The decision to constitute the flying squads comes in the wake of persistent complaints by citizens, and especially the Goa Bachao Abhiyan, that hill cutting and filling of low-lying land is done on Saturdays, Sundays and other holidays when no government authorities can be reached. Sources said the flying squads are the government’s way of ensuring quick response to such complaints. The chief minister has already signed the order and it is now up to the district collectors to constitute the flying squads, sources said.
The government has decided to constitute a special committee having legal experts under the chairmanship of commissioner and secretary (TCP) to review the TCP Act, 1974 as amended from time to time.
Sources said the government also decided to release additional funds and appoint technical assistants for expeditious completion of the Regional Plan 2021. It was decided that the government would respond to advertisements that give a wrong picture of projects as and when brought to the notice of the government.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/City/Goa/Squads-to-check-hill-cutting-land-filling/articleshow/5887985.cms
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Miguel Braganza, S-1 Gracinda Apts,
Rajvaddo, Mapusa 403507 Goa
Ph +91-9822982676;91-832-2255913
www.ofai.org www.pgsorganic.in
Horticulture.Facilitation.Networking
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Goa Su-Raj Party has been in existence since 31/08/2000.
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