PANAJI
In major decisions which are set to alter the social and spatial landscape of the State, the Town & Country Planning Board on Tuesday decided to increase the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for hotels from 20% to 30% in rural areas and to 40% in urban areas, while also developing Kadamba plateau as a new satellite township of Panaji.
“The board took a decision to revise FAR for hotels after processing applications with revised fees in slabs,” said TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane, who chaired the TCP board meet.
“We also need to de-congest Panaji City. Kadamba Plateau is growing in that direction. In that area, we will be offering a 4 Floor Space Index (FSI)”, said Rane, while commenting on the development of Kadamba plateau.
It may be recalled that the State government in 2015 had amended the Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulation Act, 2010, for an additional FAR of 20 per cent for four and five starred hotels, which could be granted on the recommendations of a committee headed by the TCP secretary and with the approval of the Government.
Justifying the decision, the TCP minister said many starred hotels were involved in illegal constructions even after the government earlier had taken the decision to increase FAR to 20 percent for specific hotels.
“Now, FAR relaxation will be given not only in the five-star category but also in the four and a three-star category of hotels,” said Rane.
“We are a tourism-oriented State and so, such relaxation is required,” he said.
“All required notifications will be issued to implement the decision before the next TCP board meeting,” Rane said.
In another decision, the TCP Board decided that there would be no project relaxation after commencement of the construction and to introduce a new fee structure for change of land use applications.
The TCP board also decided to float an Expression of Interest to appoint consultants to finalise the new Outline Development Plans (ODP) and Regional Plan (RP).
“We will take international consultants on board who will assist the Board in planning, to ensure that planning will not be in a haphazard manner,” said Rane.
“Through the urban development ministry, we will assist every municipal council in creating a master plan,” he added.
In another decision, the TCP board rejected the request of the Civil Aviation Department to grant a 20-km buffer area around Dabolim airport.
The TCP Board also decided to install CCTV cameras in all TCP and PDA offices and to strengthen Sections 16A and 16B of the TCP Act.
“This is done in order for thorough monitoring of the functioning of departments”, said Rane.
Rane said the board meeting also discussed on modalities to take stringent action on illegalities, such as filling of low-lying areas and hill cutting activities.
“The department will not stop by just filing an FIR now, but will immediately issue a stop-work order and will take the matter to court”, said Rane.
