St Andre MLA for inquiry against errant TCP officials

Porvorim: St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar on Thursday demanded a vigilance inquiry against TCP officials who arbitrarily grant development permissions and approve plans submitted by project proponents without conducting any site inspections. In response, TCP minister Vishwajit Rane said Borkar should file complaints if such cases exist. Chief minister Pramod Sawant, meanwhile, said that if a project proponent threatens to demolish local houses, action would be taken.

Stating that 11 plots were created in a village in his constituency, Borkar asked whether TCP officials had inspected the site before granting permissions for the subdivision of plots and construction of a compound wall, among others. Rane said that before granting permission, the department inspects sites according to a checklist.

“The land was shown as settlement zone in Regional Plan 2021,” the minister said.

Borkar said the property was purchased by a person from Delhi and asked whether the existing road had been demarcated therein.

“The road was 3m wide and there is a well there. Now, the well has been covered by a compound wall. We seek that the road and the well be removed from the ambit of the project,” Borkar said. He further told the House that although the road has existed for the last 40 years, it does not reflect in the regional plan. “A lot of people from the Bahujan Samaj reside there. The owner (of the property) complained to the PWD that the road is illegal. He has also been threatening that he will not allow the road,” Borkar said.

The MLA questioned whether the TCP department would consequently revoke permission for the road. In response, Rane said that technically, permissions are facilitated according to the law.

“We will write to the PWD and ask it to notify the road,” the minister said.

When Borkar said, “Delhi people take locals to the police station and threaten to demolish local houses,” Sawant intervened and said govt is here to save local dwellings. “You lodge a complaint. Such things will not be tolerated, and action will be taken against such a person,” the CM told Borkar. He also said that the road and the well in the property has been removed from the ambit of the plan.

Mayem MLA Premendra Shet asked whether TCP officials conduct site inspections of controversial projects. Rane said that he has instructed his department that inspections must be conducted and photos of the exercise must be kept on record.

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State plans law to thwart illegal plotting

Porvorim: TCP minister Vishwajit Rane on Thursday said govt will bring in a new law before the next assembly session to stop illegal plotting on orchard and other lands.

Opposition leader Yuri Alemao said 1,000 complaints of hill-cutting were received. “How many people have been prosecuted? These cases come under the TCP, revenue and home departments,” Alemao said. Listing out survey numbers, he said 50 illegal constructions have come up on those lands. He said plots are being developed without open spaces, and some have even come up in orchard, paddy and cultivable lands. “I charge that your department is hand-in-glove with illegal plotting. Will you revert these areas to their original state?” Alemao asked.

Rane admitted that illegal plotting is taking place, and that the department must act quickly. He said former TCP minister Vijai Sardesai had introduced Section 49 to the TCP Act to tackle illegal plotting, but people were still troubling govt. Sardesai said if govt implemented the section, illegal plotting would stop. TNN