Ranes and their mercenary administration over Goa

Why it is important to know about earstwhile mercenary administrators of Goa?

While the role of town planners of Goa and board members under Town and Country Planning Act has attracted increasing attention due to dubious reasons of rapid land conversion into settlement zone there is need to further understand the way Goa's current TCP department functions. 

TCP department is currently headed by Vishwajit Rane. His brazen approach to transfer Goa's land through ammedments to TCP are attracting increasing unrest. The way he dealt with 16 B, 39 A and 17 (2) to parcel out Goa's land to moneyed section of India has been sufficiently noted. What is also noted is the way Vishwajit Rane goes about tactical withdrawal of the TCP sections and re-introduces nefarious principles through different paths. There is something peculiar the way he goes about. After making commitments of land conversions to his known ones from all over India he deploys powerful and cunning initiatives to fulfill the commitment. The matter is no longer restricted to satisfaction of those who sponsored his election campaign. It's much beyond sale of Goa at all costs. He goes all out to facilitate handing over Goa's land to rich and powerful irrespective of how loudly people of Goa shout.

Portuguese who has unique acumen for governing Goa since 25 November 1510 has kept detail documentation on how they dealt with Vishwajit Rane's ancestors.

Portuguese government codified "Reģime para a concessão de terrenos do Estado da Índia" on 24 November 1917 and published in 1918 by Nova Goa - Imprensa Nacional. This document in English would mean Regime for the concession of land in the State of India.

Rule of Ranes under Portuguese fugure under Articles 222 and 223. The following is the English translation of Portuguese text of Article 222:

"There will be a book of accounts in survey department in which all the dessais, accadares and mercenaries who own and administer any of the dessaiados or mercies will be entered.

& Unique. The desaiados and other mercenaries mentioned in this article and currently existing in the State of India are those designated in the Maps annexed in nos 1 and 2 thus being considered as a provisional summery of some mercenaries."

In deed there is annexure of Map.2 on page 88 of the Reģime with a title (English translation):

Dissatisfied & other favors/bounties mercenary administrators 

Maulinguem: Sodogi Gonobá Ranes

Saleli: Candobá Vitoba Ranes

Gululêm: Umaga Zalbá Ranes

Querim: Zoitogi Raugi Ranes

Sanvordem: Ramachandrá Custobá Ranes

Poriem: Ballá Virobá Ranes

Advoi: Manica Zotobá Ranes

The political history of ancestors of Vishwajit Rane has been that of mercenary. The distinguishing character of mercenary relationships with State is extraction of largess through diplomacy of co-ercion of various kinds. Ranes extracted admistration of large tracks of lands from Portuguese through use of co-ercion for self-agrandisement.

Current rule of Vishwajit Rane must be assessed from perspective of mercenary legacy of his ancestors. Minute examination is needed both from within Sattari and without Sattari to understand detail political mercenary maneuvering currently underway from the office of TCP Minister. 

Can anything different be expecting from Vishwajit Rane whose ancestors has left his trail-blazing mercenary legacy other than intensified loot and plunder of Goa?

For mercenary rule what matters is power, wealth, privileges. Political Parties doesn't matter. Political Power matters. Political Parties can be changed easily. Mercenary needs captive souls. Sattari supplies those as per needs of votes in democracy. His father was never even an MLA from BJP Party, yet he enjoys lifetime cabinet status as his retirement largesse from BJP government. This is what mercenary rule yields. Mercenaries makes no qualms about crying in public if that will suit the situation. Many remember Vishwajit Rane crying next to Late Manohar Parrkar. His marriage to Divya has yielded his access to mining baron wealth. Divya in turn has harvested political power from Rane's mercenary politics. Their power together encompasses TCP, Health, Forest, Mining and more. 

This is a broad canvas on for Rajesh Naik Go Back! Rajesh Naik go home! You have caused enough damage! These are slogans from October 01, 2024 protest call given by Swapnesh Sherlekar. 

https://youtu.be/GbLIHKJXihM

Who appointed Rajesh Naik in TCP office in the first place? Are there mercenary strings attach that moves his mind?

Do Goa TCP Functions Under Mafia Dictates?

With recent proposal of Amendment of TCP Building rules realization has downed that Goa's Town and Country Planning Department has come under the firm grip of mafia. Important hallmark of mafia operation is secrecy. Recent analysis of those who pushed TCP department to proposed April 2023 Ammendments indicate that at least in five instances lid of secrecy is maintained. 

Analysis carried on by Tahir Noronha, Urban Planner posted online. Here we present our interpretation of Tahir's analysis.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is behind the proposed Ammendment to get migrant workers to reside within industrial zones. This certainly is in  violation of safety norms. Nevertheless his name is on record. 

Similarly Babu Kavlekar, former Deputy Chief Minister of Goa is found on records as the one who pushed for allowing legalization of prevailing unauthorized structures greater than 500 square meters in size. He has openly advocated case of those posh people who has stolen land. We can imagine how much he has been favored in cash and kind by rich who are politically connected and confidently constructed more than 500 square meters of unautorised constructions.

Steering committee has taken upon itself as decision makers with regard to pushing of Ammendments connected with Charging of Electric Vehicles, and relaxation on minor changes while constructions of buildings encroaching in setback areas.

Confederation of Real Estate Developers in India (CREDI) are recorded as being the behind the scene pushers against Changes in rule concerning 5% Utility spaces in building complexes and making the utility spaces commercial thereby affecting open spaces negatively.

Ammendments concerning reduction of road widths regarding multi-family housing projects. Road with less than 08 meters width can service 180 housing units as per the proposed ammendments that has dubious origin as the records indicate "someone informed the Committee". Who is thst someone? Why identity is kept hidden? Obviously mafia don't reveal its identy! 08 Meters road will have to shed is edges to half meter shoulders and half meter gutters on each side as per the specifications of Goa TCP. That leaves 06 Meters right of way to service 180 housing units. This is a planned move towards making Goa intensely congested destination. In case roads are without gutters then sanitation and flooding issue will multiply. In case roads are without shoulders then traffic safety is compromised. In both instances TCP regulations stands violated.

Records traces use of phrases such as "Committee was informed" and "Committee was appraised" to cover up the source being recorded. This secrecy on the proposed ammendments are suspicious to be of mafia origin. Mafia origin ammendments that have been channelized through Steering Committee of TCP that is chaired by Goa Chief Minister. This means that mafia has gained upper hand over not only over Goa TCP but also over Goa CM. Let's have details of these mafia pushed Ammendments.

Steering Committee was "informed" to create giant farm houses of 1000 square meters. Who informed? Obviously this is mafia operation to steal away Goa's farmlands. Irrespective of which other Indian State has this kind of provision the very fact that identity of the informer is kept secret makes the intention of this proposed Ammendment malafide.

Similarly the proposed ammendments allowing for other usages in A1 and A2 zones (Agriculture and Forest/Orchard/ Eco-sensitive Zones) has attribute "Committee was informed because other States have it". If TCP is incapable of recording the names of those are pushing these ammendmends then it is clear indicating that TCP has become an epicentre of mafia activities that even Chief Minister is found to be incapable to tackling. Blazing fires to Goa's Forest that began in March 2023 doesn't look accidental but the handy work of these mysterious creatures known at least to TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane. Fires are most primary steps to execute change in Forest land use.

Next proposed ammendment from undisclosed source is to allow Farm Houses in rice fields provided it is not low lying fields. And records mention "Committee was appraised". Who appraised the committee? Records are full of Ghosts.

Similarly proposed Ammendment to allow unlimited sub-division of agricultural land is from ghostly source. Records mentions "Committee was informed". Who informed? Informer has been made invisible and mysterious alien in records. In 2019 sub-division of agricultural land was restricted. Now restriction is proposed to be revoked. 

Several objections are filed before Chief Town Planner (Administration). These objections will be considered and decided if they are worthy by sub-comittee. Director of Panchayat as well as Minister of Panchayat are members of this gatekeepers. Mouvin Godinho is the only Minister and of it's kind who is member of both the sub-committee as well as steering committee. 

As it stands today degeneration of Panchayati Raj in Goa is going on under active supervision of by the Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho and Director of Panchayat Siddhi Halarnlar. They effectively has sabotaged Gram Panchayat Development Plan. Now both of them has moved inside the TCP sub-committee. We can only imagine the disaster that is awaiting to unleash. In all probability most if not all the objections are likely to be aborted even before reaching the Steering Committee, at the level of sub-committee itself.

It is now clear as to how mafia operations at Goa TCP department. If mafia plan has to succeed through TCP Department then Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) has to be stiffed. That's reason Panchayat Minister along with Director of Panchayats has found their way inside the sub-committee.

In case you are still confused then click here to know the composition of Steering Committee. 

And click here to see who are members of the sub-committee who are to consider public objections.

Sebastian Rodrigues 

Objections to the Amendments of the GLDR, 2010 of April 27, 2023

  

From:

Dr. Sebastiao A. Rodrigues

Goa State Convenor,

Bharat Mukti Morcha,

48/2, P.O. Piedade, Vanxim,

ILHAS, Goa 403 403

Mobile No.: 992 333 6347

 

Date: 24/05/2023

 

To 

The Chief Town Planner (Administration),

Town & Country Planning Department,

2nd Floor, Dempo Tower, Patto Plaza, Panaji – Goa. 403001

 

SUBJECT: Objections to the Amendments of the Goa Land Development & Building Construction Regulations, 2010 vide notification 21/1/TCP/(A)/2021/Steering Committee/675 published in Official Gazette- Govt. of Goa, dated 27/04/2023

 

Sir,

We place before you our OBJECTIONS/ SUGGESTIONS regarding each amendment as follows;

1.     Amendment of Regulation 2: Clause (52), (52A), (52B) appears to have been amended in interest of the safety and good planning of buildings, by increasing the experience requirements of Graduate and Diploma Engineers, however we request that on similar grounds the Diploma in Architectural Engineering and Diploma in Architectural Assistantship pass outs also be recognised for planning of Residential buildings within similar limits. As otherwise the Government recognising its Diploma Civil Program for allowing planning which has no subject studies of regulations and not recognising its architectural program for the same planning is a conflict of not treating its Diploma programs on par to allow trained architectural pass outs their entrepreneurship options. Besides, these Building Regulations are treating Civil Engineers as eligible for both the regulations certificate and structural liability certificate, but not allowing the Architects for the same, on par with the same reasoning.

2.     Amendment of Regulation 6.A.3.1: Clause (e) is regarding housing to be allowed in Industrial zones of I-1, I-2 and I-3. The condition of minimum 10,000 m2 plot and maximum 2.5% of built up area has been relaxed to include plots with minimum 5000 m2 and increased the maximum extent to 7.5% of built up area, thereby defeating the very reason why a wide variety of utility spaces are being provided within the 15% and limiting the residences within the Industrial zones due to conflict in favourable and normal living conditions. Residential use is one of the uses prohibited in Industrial zones due to odd working hours, possible environmental pollution levels being on higher side affecting health conditions of the vulnerable and high risk people. This proposed amendment will undo that and convert all the utility spaces into residences thereby not just limiting the utilities availability but also adding residences in unfavourable and hazardous conditions. We therefore strongly object and demand that the said clause (e) be retained without any change as suggested by the said notification.

3.     Amendment of Regulation 6.A.3.1: Clause (i) has been added with (iii), (iv), (v). This completely threatens the very idea and objective of Eco-sensitive zones in the Regional Plan of Goa. The meaning of the word Agriculture and the use allowed in the existing paras which are proposed to be numbered (i) and (ii) is being completely contradicted, corrupted and will mislead the very concept of Agriculture which has been one of our traditional occupations. All the 3 new uses proposed in the 3 new clauses (iii) to (v) are all in complete contradiction to the meaning of agriculture, threatens the eco-sensitivity of our fragile coastal ecosystems, our traditional livelihoods and occupation, exposes the local communities to increased coastal risks, accelerates climate change crisis, contradicts many other mandated authorities who have painstakingly provided us well researched documents like the National Building Code, and completely tears down the defence protection that our eco-sensitive zones have built around us against climate change risks. This is a complete disaster of the environment in the waiting and if land use planning is not risk directed can be the sole cause of irreversible damage to the local environment which will prove to be very costly for Goa. The very basis of land uses or zones is supposed to be on the nature of the soil, but this amendment will force construction on cultivable soil as extensive as 30% which will be lakhs of sq.m. thereby exposing vast indigenous population to life threatening risks. We demand that to know from whom has all these proposals been received by your department or on whose request this is being inserted and the locations of such proposals which are under consideration by the authorities. The 3 talukas of Tiswadi, Bardez and Salcete are already listed as highly vulnerable to climate change risk and the impact will affect 50% of the state population. Is the TCP department prepared to take such a risk? Has it a disaster management plan for such eventuality. All this is also against the fundamental right to life and against the directive principles of the State being custodian of the environment against risks. We therefore very strongly demand that this said amendment to clause (i) be completely dropped and the original be maintained without any change.

4.     Amendment of Regulation 6.A.4: Note (4) is being substituted by “ Farm houses within A1 and A2 zones shall be permitted with maximum permissible FAR as provided in Annexure–XI, provided these lands are not classified as “Rice” (Paddy field) in Survey Records and “Forest”. However, in case of elevated land, recorded as rice in the Survey records and the land is not low lying and also not a “Forest”, farm houses shall be permitted, provided the minimum area of such land is not less than 10,000m2, the maximum ground coverage shall be limited to 2.5% and the maximum built up area shall be limited to 500m2 with a maximum height of 7.60m from the ground level to the eaves of the roof.” This dilutes the restriction of no construction in Rice fields and merely by the elevation of the rice fields it is free from such restriction actually exposes all the low lying rice fields to get illegally “elevated” as the ground reality of elevation will be undisputable proof, in light of no mention of any such elevation documents or records of the government which are suggested as proof of the elevation which the Note emphasizes on. Interestingly, the Morodd cultivated land of Rice in Goa will also be open to construct upon with farm houses of 500 sq.m. each thus destroying the sustainable cultivation model that Goa evolved with as per its soil conditions. Farmers of Goa are very well planned communities and have high integrity of protecting their cultivable lands from corrupt practices. It’s the approach of the builders lobby who are cashing on the poverty and innocence of the farmer to usurp his land against offer of money against the backdrop of no sustainable agricultural crops and income. If A1 and A2 is considered for construction, where will be the exclusive zones left for posterity, with roads built in, machinery requirements, etc the rest of the agricultural areas also will die a slow death as a consequence. We demand to know who are the proposers of such needs and where are these locations. The farmers’ Rice fields will get purchase offers with high bidding prices causing increasing pressure on the farmer to sell off. We therefore demand there should be no dilution of allowing farm houses in Rice or forest lands and the substitution of said Note be limited to “(4) Farm houses within A1 and A2 zones shall be permitted with maximum permissible FAR as provided in Annexure–XI, provided these lands are not classified as “Rice” (Paddy field) in Survey Records and “Forest” under Forest Act.”

5.     Amendment of Regulation 6.A.4: Note (16) proposes to substitute “Further, at the time of approval of development plans, minimum 6 meters wide right of way should be available on the site.”, with a new Annexure-XII, proposing new minimum width of road for Settlement, Industrial and Hotels/Resorts uses. Please note that in Table-VIII, the same 3 uses are listed with minimum road width as 6, 10 and 8 meters respectively and the existing Note (16) as existing regulation merely states that this minimum should be existing/available on site at the time of development. So overall it is noted that all the road widths proposed in the Annexure-XII are less than what is applicable now and the that too the effect of available on site at the time of development is deleted, meaning whatever Annexure-XII says can even be in proposed state and the project with such compromised road conditions will still get approved and constructed. At this rate all our villages are going to face a huge road safety impacts, congestion and pollution and a social unrest with the crowding and density increase without any supporting infrastructure. We strongly condemn the dilution of the Road widths, selectively only to the settlement, Industrial and Hotel/Resort uses, ambiguity in the language adopted “upto” “or”, no reasoning and study analysis is the background of such a proposition, why levels have been decided as 8 units and 180 units and what road widths to follow if it is 9 or 179 units, the increasing pressure on the existing road conditions, safety and security of the vulnerable local population, unprecedented increase in population density, social and economic unrest and huge health implications. We demand that the Note (16), should be retained as it is and no such change or addition of Annexure-XII be done to have a super riding effect on the minimum road widths available on site.

6.     Amendment of Regulation 10: Clause (f) inserted suggest that 20% Car park spaces will have to be made “Electric Vehicle Ready”. This will involve expenditure and consumption of power across the state. Is the state ready for the additional power needs and the resulting regulations to be put in place for its management? We convey that although this is in sync with the overall policy of phasing out conventional fuel consumption, it will also have burden on the power needs which itself is a concern and a bit more consideration for renewable energy policy could be made in this area. We highlight this approach required on this issue and the same may be conveyed to the respective departments for consideration.

7.     Amendment of Regulation 10: Clause (f): The inserted clause (f) is actually substituting the existing clause (f) which is about the ramp to the basement floor and the conditions governing its sizes and number. As such with a new clause inserted as (f), it is obvious the the existing one is being silently deleted without revealing it in the notification. Such practices in a public notification speaks of bad governance and needs to be not just corrected but publicly apologised for and renotification be issued in this regard.

8.     Amendment of Regulation 12.4: Clause (d) is substituted with new provisions to allow the 5% public utilities in open space in one parcel instead of multiple parcels. This will lead to concentration of construction areas in open spaces, lead to centralised locations of utilised, and completely overusing the open space instead of what it is meant for. No such proposed changes should be attempted and the clause should be retained as it is. 

9.      Amendment of Regulation 12.6: Clause (b) (iii) has been omitted and content is in context to regulating the sub-division of A1 and A2 zone. Omission of this clause omits the Table – XII(A), which will open the sub-division of the eco sensitive zones of A1 and A2 in any manner or rather diluted manner of 4000 sq.m. minimum plot size which otherwise had condition of minimum plot size of 10,000 sq.m. and 20,000 sq.m. for the higher area properties. Additionally, the ban of any further sub-division of plots partitioned after the 2021 effective regulations will get lifted subjecting to a number of plotted developments of the Eco-sensitive zones into small parcels and thereby creating pressure on the cultivable and eco-fragile land. These conditions are required to be maintained to deter sub-divisions of eco-sensitive zones and to retain them in an undisturbed manner. We demand that the omission of the said clause (b) (iii) be reconsidered and the same be retained without any change.

10.  Amendment of Regulation 12.7: Clause (a) (i) is proposed to be substituted with provisions of commercial utilities accommodated in the community spaces. All this is allowed to the owner, which effectively means the plot area of 5% in a property equal to 50,000 sq.m. is 2500 sq.m. and of 500,000 is 25,000 sq.m. such areas actually be in collective ownership of the plot holders in the sub-division and the commercial nature of the utilities amounts to allowing commercial uses as a back door entry to the project developers. These provisions are actually meant for the needs of a community which is large as the sub-division involves large areas between 5 ha. to 50 ha. Understandably if these uses are expanded then the 5% reserved areas for community utilities will get sublet as business models by the developer and ignore the community needs. 5% area of such large sub-division development is very justifiably needed to accommodate the community needs for their well being which is the main objective of Town and Country planning regulations. We demand that the clause (a) (i) be retained.

11.  Amendment of Regulation 22.4 (a): Sub-clause (i) has been numbered as (a) and then added with a sub-clause (b), which state that any unauthorised construction with area more than 500 sq.m. built before 31-12-2020 can be regularised with submissions of certain listed documents. This provision serves no purpose other than creating and complicating disputes on illegal possession, encroachment and construction on land which could belong to different individuals, organisations or communidades. Regularising an illegal unauthorised structure itself is against any form of justice and presenting a cut off date and compounding fees are mere cosmetics and flexible conditions which can be revised forever to accommodate all under the sun. Besides there have been number of court judgements which prohibit such provisions which are against the law, like the Hon’ble Supreme Court Judgement dated 28/01/2011 in Civil Appeal No.1132/2011 @SLP(C)No.3169/2011 (arising out of SLP(Civil) CC No.19869 of 2010, in which even the Government of Goa has presented a say that all encroachment on community land will be identified and the land restored to its original state. Also, the provisions being for construction above 500 sq.m. to be regularised suggest that the rich builders who have engaged in illegal constrictions will get protection under these regulations. The documentation condition mentions electricity/water bills and tax receipts conveniently not specifying what tax, bills which are in fact fundamental rights of any individual and has no bearing on the ownership rights in the land. We therefore, demand that this addition of (b) to the sub-clause (i) should be dropped and even the regulation 22.4 (a) be omitted. It also implies that the sub-clause (ii) does not continue to exist with all the new numbering, which means that the 3 times compounding fees to be levied on the less than 500 sq.m. regularisation proposals deems to be deleted. Thus implying that the unauthorised constructions are encouraged by the Town and Country planning department of Goa. These amendments are unacceptable and all proposed changes are to be dropped.

12.  Amendment of Regulation 22.5: Note to be added for this regulation allows a shift of 5% in building height and in setback area that too without any compounding fees. This is completely against the National Building Code and the fire safety parameters. Any interference or reduction in the setback areas is completely out of question as there are provisions to ensure that the building alignment is approved by the authorities before work gets started so there could be no such case of shift. And if at all there is, it can be detected early before starting construction and the same can be rectified to maintain the sanctity of the minimum setback areas. We therefore demand that the original provisions as in regulation 22.5 be retained without addition of any such said Note.

13. Amendment of Regulation Annexure-XI: Clause 2 and 3 has been substituted with certain increase in coverage and FAR from 5% to 10%. This is regarding farm house regulations which are being increased 3 times of the original, thus subjecting the green eco-sensitive zones to construction activity which is 2 times more. The maximum built up area of the farm house has also been proposed to be increased from 500 sq.m. to 1000 sq.m. This is the builders or second home building lobby requirement because 1000 m2 farm house will never be the requirement of a genuine farmer living in the green zones. This merely exposes all the eco-sensitive zones to a lot of purchase and construction activities in addition to all that we have commented in the earlier points. The green areas of Goa will be up for sale in plots of minimum 4000 sq.m. each with farm houses possible of 400 up to 1000 sq.m. each. Is this the green area model which the TCP department is planning for? We demand that this increase in Coverage and FAR to 10% be dropped and the increase of 1000 sq.m. of farm house area too be dropped. The Annexure-XI clauses 2 and 3 be reverted back to its original state without any change.

14.  Amendment of Regulation Annexure-XII: This Annexure has been completely replaced by another. The original Annexure as existing in the regulations provides for controlling excessive demand of power and in event of crossing a pre-established threshold of 500 kW the project proponent was encouraged to generate his own renewable energy. The applicability also has been listed in it, thus making the construction industry realise that power comes at a huge environmental cost and there has to be an equally huge effort in sustainable means of power. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency is mandated to this cause and under the PAT scheme of the Central Government already different category of buildings are listed as designated consumers for filing their energy consumption returns so as to monitor and regulate the energy consumption by efficiency passive and active measures. Dropping of these Energy Conservation Building Code from applicability to Goa is a very regressive step and is not in sync and mandate of the BEE and also the Government. Climate change crisis is at our doorstep and Goa which does not produce its own energy is proposing to build more in green zones extensively and with freely available and uncontrolled power to be provided on demand. We demand to know the reasons behind this change and whether the National Building Code and the BEE policies are not a mandate in Goa. We demand to restore the said Annexure-XII as is in existing regulations. 

Regarding the proposed replaced draft amendment for Annexure-XII allows relaxation of road widths for settlement, industrial and Hotels/Resorts. This reduction in road width has also diluted the “available on site” criteria and the carriage width having reduced further will increase the road problems leading to a social, economic and environmental crisis in our villages. Life will be at risk and congestion will be the norm of our village planning and development as suggested by the percentage of accidents and deaths on the roads. Besides more has already been commented in the point. No. 5 earlier. We demand that the effect of the Table VIII be restored and the proposed Annexure-XII be dropped and consequently the overriding effect also be dropped. 

It is also to be noted that the sub-committee and steering committee who are in charge of all these amendments are more populated by political leaders and business leaders rather than ecologist, environmentalist, sociologist and planners. This is a complete conflict of interest and positions are used as liasoning agents by all who have financial stakes in the construction industry. Land use planning which is so crucial in this age of climate crisis is in the hands of lobbies who will expectedly think of self interest than that of the communities or the land as a whole. 

This is completely reflected in the overall observations of construction in eco-sensitive zones, regularisation of large constructions, road widths compromised to smaller widths, open spaces sacrificed, farm house allowed are larger, sub-division of green zones conditions deleted, etc. None of these proposals appear to be an evaluated response from real time study nor from the risk informed climate crisis management point of view. Even the Energy efficiency code has been done away with, is the extent the business lobby is taking our small fragile eco-sensitive land of Goa for granted. The amendments ignore ground data and bypasses planning context laid out by the Regional Plan, create conflict in the regulations within themselves as well as in the very visionary exercise the regulations are supposed to be in any land use planning.

Finally, these amendments expose the Town and Country Planning Departments INABILITY to;

·       Control illegalities and rather approve them,

·       Improve the basic infrastructure and rather stress it out beyond levels of well being

·       Encourage construction activities in eco-sensitive zones against the very objective of identifying such zones in the Regional plan for their protection

·       Uphold the various court orders to stop illegal, unauthorised and encroached land and construction issues

·       Comprehend the increase in road accidents as a fallout of bad planning of road and the unavailability of proper widths for the carriage ways

·       Understand the power crisis in our state and the environmental damage we are facing to get power from long distance and yet not make energy efficiency provisions more compulsory than be dropped altogether

·       Understand that above all, land use planning should be risk informed in this age of climate crisis with high coastal vulnerability risk for Goa.

In view of all the above, we demand that all the above amendment proposals be scrapped and the same be prepared in a holistic manner by planning the Land use at the state level, district level and regional level along with the impacting land use regulations with the participation of the people of Goa as per their constitutional right. 

Development in Goa be carried ahead through Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) enforcement through activation of State Level Empowered Committee headed by Chief Secretary of which Chief Town Planner is one of the 28 members.

Kindly take take note of the content of this letter and act accordingly without ignoring or bypassing.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

Dr. Sebastiao A. Rodrigues

In defense of our Homeland Goa!

 

 

Kindly refer to the earlier important note in this regard at the links:

 

http://bharatmukti.blogspot.com/2022/09/when-state-turns-scam-curious-case-of.html?m=1

 

Further shocking details as contained in draft Goa Land Development and Building Construction (Ammendment) Regulation, 2022 as published in Official Gazette dated August 29, 2022 Series I, No. 21, Government of Goa as under:

 

1. The above draft is notorious handiwork of Steering Committee set up under Section 6 of the Goa (Regulation of Land Development and Building Construction) Act, 2008.

 

2. The members of the Steering Committee includes the following: (a) Chief Minister (Dr. Pramod Sawant) as Chairman (b) Urban Development (Vishwajit Rane) Minister as Member (c) Panchayat Minister (Mauvin Godinho) as Member (d) Town and Country Planning Minister (Vishwajit Rane) as member (e) Chief Secretary (IAS Officer) as member (f) Secretary to Urban Development Ministry (IAS officer) as member (g) Secretary to Panchayat Ministry (IAS Officer) as member (h) Secretary to Town & Country Ministry (IAS Officer) as member (i) Chief Town Planner as Member-Secretary and (j) One Co-opted Expert member.

 

Agriculture Minister is not on Steering Committee even though projects are pushed in A-1 and A-2 Agriculrural zones.

 

3. The above Steering Committee then appoints Sub-Committee consisting of (a) Director of Municipal Administration (b) Director of Panchayats (c) Chairman/member of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) (d) Goa Chamber of Housing Industry (GCHI) (e) Local Chapter Representatives of Associations of Town Planners, Engineers and Architects (f) Senior Town Planner as Member-Secretary.

 

Representative of Khazan Management Committee is neither on Steering Committee nor on Sub-Committee even though projects are pushed in Khazan land.

 

4. Timeline as evident after decidings:

(A) Notification on August 29, 2022

(B) Public can comment for 30 days upto September 27, 2022

(C) Sub-Committee to report to Steering Committee within two months: November 27  2022

(D) Steering Committee to sent recommendations to the Government within 30 days: December 26, 2022.

 

5. Formerly process started just a day before Ganesh Chaturthi 2022 and is likely to end a day after Christmas 2022.

 

6. Goa Government has appointed few people as Notary-Architects and Notary-Engineers as section 2 (90). List of them needs to be compiled based in Gazette notification of their appointment. 

 

7. In Ammendment to Regulation 3.11, in clause (c) requirements of post occupancy within 5 years is dropped. Now it will take place from time to time on random basis. 

 

There is no time limit within which post occupancy audit needs to be carried on. Even if it is not carried on it is perfectly alright. So the scope for illegalities further increases. Audit can be used as threat to extort and blackmail in the absence of any legally binding timeframe to carry out mandatory. The is a major blow for Goa and boon for real estate lobby for can turn intensely reckless in their endeavors.

 

Audit is required for Economic, Ecological, Social, Environmental reasons. Carrying capacity of Goa to accommodate buildings with respect to water and electricity consumption needs to be identified. And so Goa's capacity to handle Garbage generated by increasing housing projects. Ecological auditing needs to be carried on.

 

Track record of the past audits for group housing, multi-dwelling building s and multi storied buildings needs to be checked from the office of Town and Country Planning Department. 

 

8. In an Ammendment suggested in clause (d) in Regulation 4.11 choices of Authorities are added. While existing three choices are "Authority/Council/Panchayat". Choice expansion suggested now is "Authority/Council/Panchayat/Town and Country Planning Department/Planning and Development Authority/ Public Works Department". 

 

So TCP, PDA and PWD are included as additional choices. This amounts to violations 73rd and 74th Ammendment. Further it creates centralization of power relations and new horizons of corruption special regarding 40% coverage and 3 meters setback.

 

9. In a commercial zone Ammendment is suggested to Regulation 6A.1 in Table - VII against serial no.II to include a new category of building clusters known as SPC-CBD designating it as Special Commercial-CBD. CBD stands for Central Business District.

 

What is Special about this commercial zone is not explained. 

Use the word District denotes that's its administration will be headed by a Magistrate.

It seems to be Special Economic Zone in camouflaged manner.

If that commercial zone is central then it means all other zones are to the periphery.

This seems to be at the heart of economic inequality fostering strategy. 

 

10. Infrastructure for SPC-CBD (Special Commercial -CBD) as suggested through draft Ammendment to Regulation 6.A.4 in Table - VIII indicate permissions for 12 floor buildings that will need 15 meters wide roads, 40% coverage, 400 FAR, 10.00 meters front setback and 40 meters height. 

 

Where will this Central Business District located?

Get information on Modi ground.

Get information on Patto II Project.

 

11. In draft Ammendment Farm houses are permitted in Agricultural zones A1 and A2 even if land is classified as "Rice" (Paddy field) in survey records. All that is required elevation to the land and minimum Land area must be 10,000 m². Ground coverage sort to be given in these cases stands at maximum 2.5% and maximum built up area can go upto 500m² with maximum height of 7.60m from the ground level to the eaves of the roof."

 

This means building as big as two floors covering 500 m² can stand in rice field as a farm house. It's this a outright mockery? Since there is no Auditing involved any deviations can take place and government is not duty bound to act.

 

One more lethal attack on Agriculture. From no construction status inroads for construction in paddy fields are proposed to be opened up. Day may not be too far when Agriculture in Goa may stop and Agriculture Ministry may be shut fowm. Ravi Naik may be the last Agriculture Minister in Goa for there are several more lethal attacks on Agriculture in Ammendment elsewhere too as below.

 

12. The very meaning of Agriculture itself is sought to be distorted with draft Ammendment to Regulation 6.A.3.1 inserts provisions in A1 and A2 zones that are outrightly objectionable. New additions proposed as agricultural activity:

 

(I) Agricultural Research Centre

(II) Development Centre

(III) Agricultural Educational Institute

(IV) Bio-Technology Unit

(V) Open Air Sports Structure

(VI) Open Air Religious Structure

(VII) Golf Course

(VIII) Film City

(IX) Film studio

(X) Residential school 

(XI) Yoga or mediation Centre

 

No dictionary every equals above 11 items as Agricultural practice of any society ever. They are given various minimum Land holding limits. And varying coverage and FAR for construction purpose. This draft Ammendment is a conduit to concretize remaining paddy fields of Goa. Only the greedy perverts can think of such a cruel abominations.

 

13. Suggested Ammendment to 6A.4 (iii) in Note (12) proposes to give two stilt floors free for measurement of height in any zone for a building with permissible 150 FAR.

 

Stilt floors are the floors for parking of cars of the building residents. However in scenario of absence of audit it is totally possible that greedy mafia real estate agents will construct flats on stilts and sell them off, of course, with palm greasing of all concerned. The fall out is parking of cars will be on public roads. This allowance like to be misused as it is non-transparent and arbitrary together with proposed absence of mandatory auditing of the building.

 

14. Existing provision at Regulation 6.A.4 (iv) Note (16) is replaced with a new one. It was required that at the time of approval of development plans minimum 6 meters wide right of way should be available on site. This has been done away with. For right of way to be 6 meters width of the road is legally required to be 8 meters as definition of road includes shoulders and gutters adjacent to the right of way.

 

ANNEXURE-XII is introduced as a minimum width of road requirements for the buildings. Let's examine this annexure further.

 

15.  For a single dwelling with 200 m² minimum width of road needed is 3 mts or less if passing through other/ traditional access. Less mean it could be 2 mts or even 1 mt. Sounds ridiculous? Not at all. There are provisions in place that builder will pay Government to aquire land for roads in these type of land locked construction projects. Then road will be widened. Private lands are not safe at from real estate predators.

 

For a floor area of 500 m² of single dwelling unit 3 mts or more but public road is required.

 

For double units of 400 m² floor area width of the roads required is greater than 3 upto 4 mts.

 

For 4 units of 600 m² floor are public roads with width greater than 4 upto 5 mts is needed.

 

For 8 units of 1000 m² width of public road requirements is greater than 5 upto 6 mts is needed.

 

For 180 units with Floor area of 20,000m² width of road needed is 6 meters or greater. This means if units between 9 and 179 will need public road with width of greater than 5 mts upto 6 mts. Can public road of this width cater to 179 units fully occupied?

 

Further Table X provides scientific analysis of road. Width of the road includes gutters on both sides of the roads and shoulders on both sides of the roads. Gutters and shoulders occupy two meters of the road width. Right of way that is omitted in the drat Ammendment is what is actually  available space for vehicles to move on road. This means if the width of road is 5 mts then considering the width occupied by gutters and shoulders only one meter may be available for movement of vehicles. Only two wheelers can move in such space. 

 

The provisions introduced by bypassing right of way proviso is dangerous. Thinking looks to be to do away with gutters and shoulders. This will turn roads killers and introduce unimaginable floods due to roads without gutters as the case in many places where reckless urbanisatiom is haboured by the State. Audaciously definition of roads on this same law of TCP is overlooked. This audacity comes from the assumption of the Steering Committee that people of Goa will be efficiently mind control and this fact will never come to their attention. Bluff is over now.

 

16. This Annexure XII is substituted for existing BEE Annexure XII dealing with Adoption of Energy Conservation Building Code, 2006 of Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Department of Power, Government of India to control energy guzzling projects in Goa. This means buildings in Goa will be supplied with unlimited energy caring hoot for carbon footprints. Currently there is a legal limit upper limit on consumption of electricity. With the omission this limit goes off and disequilibrium in State Electricity supply can be expected in disruptive manner. Hence Energy Conservation Annexure that is sought to be done away with must be retained and adopted to Goa.

 

17. In an Ammendment to 6.A.3.1 clause (e) more construction is allowed in Industrial Zones I-1, I-2 and I-3. More people are allowed to reside in industrial areas not withstanding risks and hazards. Workers in industrial establishment need not take residence outside industrial zones.

 

Some years ago Industrial Estates were taken away from Panchayat jurisdictions. It's ironical indeed. Panchayat themselves are alien to Goa. They were installed to manage annexed conquest territory of Goa. Now there is trend to weaken them as much as possible. Time has arrived to revert back to pre-1961 model of management of Goa minus Portuguese rule.

 

18. There already are regulations in place that regularises unauthorized constructions less than 500 square meters. Now this facility is sought to be extended to those unauthorized constructions above 500 square meters. This is applicable also in Coastal CRZ areas with the permission of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA). All that is required is the evidence that construction was before 31-12-2020. Evidence can be anything Electricity bill, water supply bill, tax receipts etc. Compounding fee is six times more than normal license.

 

After few years there is likely Ammendment that all such unauthorized constructions before 31-12-2022 will be regularised. This can on every two years till every inch of Goa's land is Urbanized.

 

This is very profitable venture to the vested interests on prowl but it is destined to ruin Goa to the point unimaginable. Damage causes might even have long term irreversible impacts. No impact studies are carried on even for legally permitted building so where is the question of assessing impacts of unauthorised structures? System in place is in need of drastic shake up.

 

19. FAR of 20% for 4 and 5 star hotels in increased to 30%. 3 star hotels too are given 30% FAR. Surely this is to benefit tourism lobby. This is indicative of the fact that Goa administration is controlled by luxury tourism lobby. Though public votes politicians, public has no control over them after they get elected. Political class is unanimous not to get Political Parties under the scope of RTI Act and hence it is not possible to know as to which corporate funded which politicians gor them to 'purchase' votes at the time of elections. Hence current democratic system has turned voters into disposable diapers that are to be discarded as soon as elections are over and further subjected to cruel humiliating treatment as reflected in this very draft Ammendment. Indian burecrats are part of the this nasty game as well. Indian Administrative service trains officers to rule ever since 1961 Annexure of Goa through conquest as pointed out by Supreme Court of India in Shantilal Gosalia mining Case.. This Ammendment indicate treatment of Goa as war booty camouflaged as liberation. The practical goal keepers are Goa's perennial behind the scene operators: Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). They are part and parcel of this disgusting process to push Goa to extinction. This they asses is currently the best timed considering voice of Goans is weakened due to self-censorship enforced by those with Portuguese citizenship. 

 

20. There is an addition of new Annexure- XIV-A for allowing additional 20% FAR to the medical institutions/hospitals having 200 beds and more. Are these for private hospitals/medical institutions?

 

Recommendation for additional FAR must come from the State Government agencies. 

 

With the absence of Auditing system there is no accountability of what purpose these hospitals buildings will be put to.

 

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Currently Urban Development Ministry, Town and Country Planning Ministry as well as Health Ministry is in the hand of one person Vishwajit Rane. Implication of such a concentration of power can easily lead to moral and ethical subversion in the corridors of power at the highest levels in Goa and Delhi. In fact there is something abnormal in the conduct of Vishwajit Rane. No one can sell off his homeland on a platter in a mercenary style the way this Ammendment seeks to sell off Goa. It  is a serious crises and to salvage Goa we need to locate true homeland of Vishwajit Rane and deport him there to sell it off to whoever he wants. It is most likely that Vishwajit Rane knows his homeland and can ponder as to if he would treat land of his forefather the way hebis treating Goa through this Ammendment. 

 

21. Some common observations thus as under:

 

(i) Translation of this Ammendment  is not available in vernacular language or official language for people to understand impact and implications on their fields and kulagars. Since the impact is going to be long lasting discussion on this Ammendment has to carried on at booth level across State of Goa. For this 30 days are not enough. Even if State Government doesn't extent the last date under influence of commercial interest this needs to discussed across the State of Goa far longer. If needed for the next five years. Discussion is the first step to action. State Government would like public not to discuss this and will certainly will throw various candies for distractive purpose. We need to reject them at the first instance. This Ammendment is the final nail the coffin of the very idea of Goa that we know of, the very idea of freedom we know of, the very idea of fresh air we breath, very notion of roads that we treat on and very history of Goa that we were prevented from learning. It is for this reason that we need to discuss this intensely both before and after September 27, 2022.

 

(ii) Land as a commodity is being brokered in terms of FAR of 400, increase of 15% for farm house, 30% for hotels, 20% for hospitals, premium payment for all FAR above 200, unauthorised regularisation, less road width instead of more to favour builders, farm houses in fields, etc..... all will only be a business model to broker land value and multiply corrupt in a department which have been notorious with every changing Minister. Latin meaning of the word 'Minister' is Servant. It means one who serves people. The behavior of current ministers is far from being servants. In fact they deviated so far away from their original role that the word Minister doesn't fit them. Most appropriate word currently fits them is 'Monster'. So we have Chief Monster, Council of Monsters, etc.

 

(iii) This actually can be a election funding model for all Politicos from land sharks.

 

(iv) There will be boom in construction, Ease of Doing Business, GCCI/TTAG/GCZMA will decide many critical areas of land use against an expected process of study, analysis, action, audit and review.

 

Ease of Doing Business is more important to the government than the constitutional duty cast on it to be custodian of the environment and showing the way forward for sustainability.

 

(v) All Rice fields will be in one stroke reduced by 15% as it will be covered by farmhouses.

 

To end it is important to know the original Latin meaning of the word Government. It is composed of two Latin words " Guverno" meaning to control, and "mentis" means mind. Government therefore means to control minds. Entire Government endeavor is mind control program in innumerable ways. Some of these programs will be clearly visible as soon as this note hits public domain. For public cannot be looted and fooled if their minds are not controlled. Logically, this Ammendment cannot be enforced without effective mind control program in Goa. Mind control programs are required to complete what was started by Nehru in December 1961. Congress Party started it then. BJP seeks to complete the conquest of Goa to the last inch. The Ammendment under discussion seeks to advance thus agenda. You are welcome to comprehend this note. You are welcome to debate, agree or disagree this note. You are welcome join us as we stand to defend Goa's land from organised mafia and their dens in corridors of powers. Yes, you are welcome, you are indeed welcome! Goa is our homeland!

 

You are requested to study this note and start discussions in your neighborhoods, contacts, friends, networks and family.

 

You can use this note as a backgrounder to your interventions at various levels of governance in Goa and India.

When State turns Scam: Curious case of Goa TCP Amendment 2022

 

James Mathew, Chief Town Planner (Administration) & Ex- officio Joint Secretary issued notification on August 29, 2022 - by order and in the name of the Governor of Goa - that is destined not only affect present but also future generations of Goans: provoke and consolidate major demographic destabilization. 

 

In an Official Gazette Series I, No. 21 Government of Goa has issied death warrant to whatever remaining of Goa after being "annexed through conquest" (as observed by Supreme Court of India in Shantilal Gosalia case) in December 1961 under Soviet Union pressure, backing through veto at the United Nations and International management of an illegal conquest of Goa. Evil further strengthens instead of weakening with this notification. In faith I do pray : Thy will be done, you take care of it!

 

It appears from the cited notification that there is even a steering Committee in TCP to intensified this conquest at micro level. The code of this mysterious entity is as follows: 21/1/TCP/(A)/2021/Steering Committee/1377. It is important to find out as to who are the members of this steering committee that has put their ugly sight on Goa.

 

Nevertheless Government of Goa anticipates that people of Goa are going to be affected even negatively and therefore has asked for the objections and suggestions within 30 days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette viz 29 August 2022. So 30 days will be completed on September 27, 2022 which is known as World Tourism Day. No wonder Government of Goa intents to hand over huge amount of land to Tourism industry. That is the reason why this notification is published. It's classic case of neo-colonial penetration through tourism pretexts. It's way of taking remaining land out of control of Goans. Its legal dragnet finely weaved.

 

All the Objections and/or suggestions are to be manually handed over to:

 

The Chief Town Planner (Administration)

Town and Country Planning Department, 

2nd Floor, Dempo Tower, 

Patton Plaza, 

Panaji

 

What is proposed for Ammendment called?

Goa Land Development Building Construction (Ammendment) Regulation, 2022.

 

Which Regulation is sought to be Ammended?

Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulations, 2010

 

So to understand clearly one need to get copy of this 2010 Regulations from some source.

 

There is proposal to massively parcel out Goa's land to Golf Courses, Film Cities, Film Studios, Residential Schools, Yoga Meditation Centres etc.

 

Minimum Land needed to set up Golf Course: 4,00,000 m².

 

Minimum Land needed to set up Film City: 4,00,000 m².

 

Minimum Land needed to set up Film Studio: 1,00,000 m².

 

Minimum Land needed to set up Residential School: 2,00,000 m².

 

Minimum Land needed to set up Agricultural Research Centre/ Development Centre/ Agricultural Educational Institute/ Bio-technology Unit: 2,00,000 m².

 

Minimum Land needed to set up Yoga  meditation centre: 1,00,000 m².

 

Minimum Land needed to set up Open air sports or Religious structure: 20,000 m².

 

Minimum Land needed to contract 500 square meters of Farm House: 10,000 m².

 

Further explanation given:

 

Golf Course, Film city or Film studio to be set up only with approval of the Town and Country Planning Board and the Government. 

 

The second explanation is curiously topographic. It goes as under:

 

"The proposal of the Residential school, or Yoga meditation centre shall be permitted in any zone except Eco-sensitive such as low lying paddy fields, water bodies, kazan lands, flood prone area, land having slope more than 25%, forest land, wild life sanctuaries, and tenants agricultural land."

 

What the above explanation imply?

 

Explanation implies that Golf Courses, Film Cities and Film Studios will be permitted in all the zones including Eco-sensitive such as low lying paddy fields, water bodies, kazan lands, flood prone area, land having slope more than 25%, forest land, wild life sanctuaries, and tenants agricultural land.

 

There detailed note at 6(v) that indicate Golf Course proposals are already toying around the corridors of power. Let's see through:

 

Golf course is given 30% and 30% FAR. Details worked out for Project Report is very instructive:

 

"Project report shall be conceived with the following requirements:

 

Site planning and management,

 

Green and eco-friendly design,

 

Selection of species of landscape, 

 

Water conservation, 

 

Material selection, 

 

Energy efficiency,

 

Operation and maintainable,

 

Installation of Sewage Treatment Plants (STP),

 

Creation of Catchment Areas to ensure that the project is self sufficient in water requirements,

 

Organic/ non-toxic fertilizers to be used,

 

Golf Course should be designed to act as the lungs of the locality."

 

From 1992 Goa has battled out successfully against eight Golf Course projects at Canaguinim, Tiracol, Bambolim, Amthane, Mandrem, Morjim, Vanxim and Arambol.

 

More recent combat against golf course has been in Tiracol and Vanxim. 

 

While Golf Course design is prescribed as lungs of the locality it gives an impression that Ammendment is carried on with love and concern for the planet. This image gets torn apart with Ammendment proposed at 8 (ii) g.

 

Regulation 8 (ii) (g) reads as follows:

 

"All new and renovated non-residential buildings as well as individuals and other residential buildings, co-operative Housing Societies and Colonies managed by Residents Welfare Associations (RWA), with parking demarcated for more than 10 Equivalent Car Spaces ('ECS') shall have atleast 20% of such ECS to be made 'Electric Vehicle Ready' ECS spots with conduits installed or as per the GOA ELECTRIC MOBILITY PROMOTION POLICY - 2021 as ammended from time to time".

 

Electric vehicles of all types runs on batteries. These batteries are made up of rare mineral Ore like Cobalt, Nickel and Lithuim which are dugged out of bowels of the earth though mining. Electric Vehicles are horrible for environment. Goa is an excellent example as to how this Ammendment is meant to destroy Earth and disrupt communities by promoting mining in various parts of the World. This indicate that overall thinking that has gone in conceptualizing these Ammendments are rather warped. Golf Courses is presented as lungs of the locality only as Public Relations exercise to win public legitimacy. If not then Regulations would have pointed out as to how many Golf Players are trained by schools, Colleges and Sports department of the State Government.

 

Golf is an integral part of global sex tourism. Filthy rich from in and out form the ring if exploitation. If Golf Course is installed in Goa then sex trade will take new high. Goa has already attracted ill reputation with Casinos in Mandovi and all the immoral activities that goes on there as pointed out several times by late Dr. Joe D'Souza.

 

With Mopa airport coming through its sustainable needs Golf Courses in Goa. Mopa Airport is being built by crushing down voices of local farmers. It's sustainable needs more land for Golfing. To sustain one wrong several more wrongs are being planned and enforced. This notification therefore is not a stupidity. This is treatment given to Goa as 1961 conquest booty. This will continue as long as Goans will continue to immerse in alcohol, till they accept manipulations by intellectuals, till they don't dare to stand up and retort "I am an intellectual! I too is subject of history! I won't tolerate being kicked around by anyone! I too have conscience! Voice of my conscience is supreme and none can silence it any more. I here and now speak out persistently!" this nasty horror of Goa will continue to flourish unbridled with new intensity.

 

Next important point 12 needs our attention. It puts Goa out rightly for grabs in an outstanding mockery of not only law but also common sense too. Here is how Ammendment of Regulation 24.4 (a) reads:

 

"Regularisation of unauthorized construction having an area of more than 500 m² complying with these regulations and built before 31-12-2020 may be done on recommendation of Town and Country Planning Department or the Planning and Development Authority by verifying that the construction carried out prior to the cut off date i . e 31-12-2020 period of construction based on documents like electricity bills, water supply bill, tax receipts and other evidences. Compounding fee shall be six times the normal license fee for regularization of these structures."

 

As per the dictates of logic if any structures above 500 m² are constructed in unauthorized manner and given electricity connections, water connections, even paid taxes not only these buildings needs to be pulled down like twin towers in Gurgaon few days ago but also all the officials involved in releasing electricity, water connections needs to be identified, chargesheeted, prosecuted, and sent to where they belong: Jail or gallows. 

 

Why this is not happening. It's because Goa is annexed through conquest. Conquering nation believes that it has privilege to decimate and subvert legal system into jungle law, predator-prey relationship. Regulations are ammended like this one to resemble decree of dacoits assembled in the middle of town. Large number of People in Goa are not aware of scary horror that Goa has been reduced to post 1961. This Regulation is more milestone towards Goa's sad demise.

 

This draft Ammendment can also serve as point of resurrection if people of Goa kick out their compromising postures and stand up to the rotten reality to glitter it with words of power and wisdom. This can happen only if we choose to snub. 

 

Sebastian Rodrigues