Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Calangute-Candolim Planning Area 2025 and the Arpora-Nagoa-Parra Planning Area 2030 Outline Development Plans (ODPs), which were published in the Official Gazette on December 15, 2022, have been stayed by the High Court of Bombay at Goa.
“We direct that the implementation of the December ODPs be stayed pending the hearing and final resolution of the petition. Based on the December ODPs, no clearances, permissions, or zone changes will be allowed,” the court said.
Respondent Nos. 1, 2, and 3 shall guarantee that no building or development activities take place in reliance on any permissions that are either granted or presumed to be granted under the contested Ordinance.
Based on the December ODPs, no zone or user conversions or changes should be allowed. The interim order dated 14.02.2024 directs that all construction, development, conversions, and zone changes in the five villages must strictly adhere to RPG-2021.
This would be the responsibility of the NGPDA, Collectors, and TCP department officials, according to the court order. The Senior Advocate for the State of Goa requested a stay, but the Court denied it, citing the fact that the State and its representatives would continue to carry out significant zone changes, conversions, constructions, and developments under the terms of the stay.
Due to overnight part-heard matters, the matter has been scheduled for a final hearing on July 8, 2024, high on board.
Meanwhile, the Court order states that an affidavit that was submitted before it shows, at least on the surface, that Michael Lobo, the former chairman of the NGPDA and Calangute MLA, benefited most from zone changes and conversion.
