2.7L sqm notified for change of use under TCP’s Sec 39A: Rane

Porvorim: Town and country planning (TCP) minister Vishwajit Rane on Thursday said in the House that 2.7 lakh sqm of land was notified under Section 39A of the TCP Act for change of land use.Responding to a question by St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar, Rane said not a single guideline was violated under Section 39A and that the court itself had observed that the section was an excellent mechanism.Borkar pointed out that the use of vast tracts of land had been changed under Section 39A and that rampant hill-cutting has been taking place. “There have been changes on no-development slopes, in natural cover and in orchard land,” he said. Citing an instance, he said that change of use had been recommended for 5,000sqm of land at Siridao and that this area included a religious structure and comprised partly natural cover with a no-development zone.In yet another case, he said, 6,000sqm of orchard land had been recommended for a change in use, and that in one more instance, more than 74,000sqm was sought to be converted despite it being partly natural cover, partly micro-industrial zone, and partly orchard land. “This land has not been notified but recommended for a change in land use,” Borkar said.The MLA asked if the land of a Delhi-based person which was cleared for change of use, would be reverted to its original use by the minister. Rane said he had noted the objections and that the matter would no longer be processed.