To, The Aministrator, GOANET,
via e-mail Sir, Kindly find the Party's Press Note for favour of Publication. Thanking you, Yours faithfully, for Goa Su-Raj Party Sd/- Floriano C. Lobo Spokesperson ** The Goa Su-Raj Party is, at the outset, very happy to note that a 'Single Window' procedure for 'Land Conversion' has been initiated by the Government. This was indeed long overdue. However not to be very optimistic about this venture, specifically when such goodness flows from the Town & Country Planning Department headed by the Town & Country Planning Minister, Shri Babush Monserrate, immediately after the devastating 'TCP Ordinance' who is seen as extremely manipulative when it comes to Land Conversions, we have solicited opinions on this Single Window from those who are in the know of such matters. The general opinion obtained by the Party on this particular Single Window procedure seems to be favourable to the general public who has been made to run from pillar to post to deal with conversion sanads. However certain safe-guards are required to be maintained if this simplification of Land Conversion procedures are not to be misused and abused by both the government as well as the more conversant and manipulative members of the public. Therefore we request the general public to keep the following in mind as regards 'Land Conversion Procedures':- That obtaining "Conversion Sanad' from the relevant authority is just a formality for the payment of the requisite dues to the Revenue Department. It must be borne in mind that the area to be converted is already outlined/demarcated to lie in the 'Settlement Zone' in the notified Regional Plan (RP), the Outline Development Plan (ODP) and/or the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP). That this procedure cannot be utilized to effect 'Change of Land Use' from one to the other as the change in land use procedure has been already followed in full while preparing the RP by liaising with all the relevant authorities more simply named as 'CADA' (Comand Area Development Authority). That by virtue of the RP and other plans being notified, it is desirable to put a seal on any more land use changes until the expiry of the RP which is ordinarily thought to be ten years, but was notified as 5 years prior to March, 1988. The provisions of the amendment to the 5 year life of the RP were effected in 1988 vide Extra-Ordinary Gazette Series I No. 49 Dtd. 03.03.88 whereby the Government/TCP Department reserves the right to effect changes to the RP as and when they are desired. Therefore this amendment has been used by the TCP Department to render the RP and other plans as just the painting boards for lucrative side gains/extortion. In order to maintain respectability to the planning procedures, this above mentioned amendment must be scrapped forthwith and restore the 5 year sealing as before 1988 in order not to make mockery of the planning procedures. That the aggrieved person/s who, for some reason or the other, may be in doubt if any changes are made to the land use zone after such notification of the RP, may approach the Chief Town Planner to view the laminated copies of such notified plans, who is duty bound to produce the same for viewing on demand as the scope for manipulation rendered by the scale to which the RP is drawn-up which is 1 : 25,000 measures one millimeter at a whopping 25 meters. The Goa Su-Raj Party hopes that the notification of the RP-2001-2011, which is already late by six years will correct the past practices. The Goa Su-Raj Party also hopes that such 'Single Window' procedures may be initiated by the Government in respect of each and every Government Departments so that the developmental graph is not impeded by the bureaucratic red-tape. End _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org)