Special Correspondent
Panaji
The department of town and country planning (TCP) has rescinded the earlier correction of zoning for six properties under the Regional Plan 2021, which are located at Sao Jose de Areal, Verna and Pirna, besides three properties at Cortalim, after the respective property owners failed to pay additional fees demanded by the department.
The rectifications, all carried out under Section 17(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act, were aimed at changing the land use to Settlement Zone.
The owners had paid a total sum of Rs 7.3 lakh, however the department of town and country planning later sought an additional Rs 84.4 lakh, citing undervaluation of fees by the department officials.
Following the failure of the property owners to pay the additional sum within the stipulated time, the department issued a notification cancelling the zoning corrections. It may be recalled that earlier this month the department had rescinded zone conversions of a Bengaluru-based firm after it failed to pay the additional fee of Rs 7.2 crore.
The department of town and country planning has started reassessing the amount to be paid and initiate recovery proceedings following a writ petition in the High Court with reference to the zone conversions under 17(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act.
