The Goa Foundation has condemned seven large-scale ad hoc zoning changes in the Regional Plan 2021 that favor M/s Gangareddy Infra Private Ltd in Morjim village, Pernem taluka.
In a press statement issued on Friday, Goa Foundation director Claude Alvares said that the changes have been effected under the pretext of being “errors”; however, no errors can be found in RP 2021 in this context for this area.
"The changes have been notified by issuing a unilateral notification under the newly added sub-section 2 of Section 17 of the TCP Act,” Alvares said. “The section was recently introduced by the government by making an amendment to the Act."
The Goa Foundation has called for a review of the zoning changes and has urged the government to withdraw the unilateral notification. “The government must withdraw the notification and review the zoning changes in consultation with the State Level Committee on RP 2021,” Alvares said. “The government must also ensure that no further ad hoc zoning changes are made to the Regional Plan 2021.”
The zoning changes have been met with criticism from environmental groups and activists. They have warned that the changes could have a negative impact on Goa's environment and could lead to further development in sensitive areas.
Via: O Heraldo
The Agricultural Land in Morjim, Goa