PANAJI
Two legislations the government proposes to pass on Monday are expected to generate much discussion, debate and heat in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
The Goa Town and Country Planning (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2024 and The Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation of Single Window Clearance (Amendment) Bill, 2024, were introduced in the House by the respective Ministers Vishwajit Rane and Mauvin Godinho earlier last week.
They are slated for 'consideration' and "passing" by the House on Monday according to the agenda circulated among members by Legislature Secretary Namrata Ulman on Sunday.
The Goa Town and Country Planning (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2024 amends section 19 of the original TCP Act, to the effect that Outline Development Plans (ODPs) remain valid even if the planning area they pertain to are withdrawn as planning areas.
Another section sought to be inserted through the amendment provides for granting finality to permissions for development granted by the TCP department and curtails the powers of other State authorities to question these permissions under other State laws.
The clause on 'Validation' introduced meanwhile seeks to give validity to all permissions granted and all zoning and conversion reports issued by the TCP department or other statutory authorities under the controversial Candolim-Calangute and Arpora-Nagoa-Parra ODPs several matters of which are sub-judice before the Bombay High Court.
The amendment also seeks to bar jurisdiction of courts by inserting the following sub-section: (i) no suit or other proceeding shall lie or be maintained or continued in any court challenging such approvals/certificates/reports.
The second government legislation piloted by Godinho seeks to amend the IPB law ostensibly to strengthen the "ease of doing business" initiatives to promote industry in the State.
The bone of contention in it however is the apparent intent to give the IPB greater power overriding statutory powers of local bodies -- Village Panchayats and Municipalities.
