In 5 years, TCP dept spent Rs 8.7cr on legal battles
: Goa's town and country planning department has spent Rs 8.7 crore of taxpayers' money on legal costs over the last five years. The money has been spent on lawyer's fees to defend the department's policies, which were challenged through PILs filed by NGOs and environmentalists.
The TCP department's move to permit the change of zone through Section 16(b), 17(2) and now 39(A) of the Town and Country Planning Act has been challenged by various organisations before the high court of Bombay at Goa. The department has been defending its stance despite the courts frowning on the policies.
The high court of Bombay at Goa has passed directions against Section 17(2) and the Outline Development Plans for the five villages of Calangute, Candolim, Parra, Arpora and Nagoa.
'Both the orders have been challenged by govt before the Supreme Court of India, vide Special Leave Petitions (Civil), which are under process,' said Rane in a written statement before the assembly on Thursday.
Rane released the data in response to a question from RG MLA Viresh Borkar.
Rane also informed the assembly that the department is involved as an interested party in several other civil cases where govt pays the fees of the legal counsel, consultants and govt advocates.
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