Latest news with #TownandCountryPlanningAct
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Oppn leader demands white paper on land conversions
Porvorim: Opposition leader Yuri Alemao on Thursday demanded that town and country planning minister Vishwajit Rane table a white paper detailing the total land that has been converted under Sections 16(b), 17(2), and 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act. While promising to answer the opposition's queries, Rane said that during his tenure, 16-17 lakh sqm of land has been converted, compared to 9.5 crore sqm under the Regional Plan 2021 and 1.5 crore sqm in the year before he became the TCP minister. 'I will answer all questions on Aug 7 in the House. To the extent that I can give answers, I will provide them,' Rane said. 'The leader of the opposition has asked for a white paper, I will give him the numbers.' Alemao accused Rane of permitting the conversion of eco-sensitive lands for settlement, which would cause irreversible damage to the environment. Alemao demanded a freeze on large residential colonies in villages. 'In 12 years, BJP has done enough damage. Zoning changes are done to benefit the influential and the common Goans are kept in the dark,' Alemao said. 'We need a white paper on all the conversions.' He said that land conversions and large housing projects have caused stress to villages, roads, and water and electricity supply. 'No scientific study was carried out to determine the carrying capacity of Goa, of its towns and villages. The TCP Act was formulated for structured and regulated growth,' Alemao said.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
In 5 years, TCP dept spent Rs 8.7cr on legal battles
Porvorim : 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.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
My hubby transformed our shed into a ‘dream' nail salon – bargains from Homebase & IKEA made it look so glam on a budget
A WOMAN has revealed that her husband transformed a shell of a shed into a glamorous nail salon. Now, Nicola Vacher-Smith, who is the founder of Sanctuary Twelve, a 2 A nail technician has revealed a before and after look of her garden studio Credit: TikTok/@nicolavachersmith 2 What was once a shell of a shed is now a fully functioning beauty space - and we think it looks fabulous Credit: TikTok/@nicolavachersmith Not only does she have a gorgeous space to welcome clients into, but according to the nail technician and beauty therapist, it is a very 'relaxing' and 'calm' environment. Nicola, who is from Newcastle, took to social media to share a step-by-step process of her shed renovation, leaving many open-mouthed. Alongside the post, Nicola confirmed that her husband, who she described as her 'best friend,' 'biggest supporter' and even 'content model', did all of the work himself, as she beamed: 'Husband appreciation post.' What was once an empty Read more Fabulous stories And not only do people think it looks 'beautiful' but others have said it is their 'dream' to have something similar in their In the short clip, we saw Nicola's husband take on the hefty Following this he then plastered and But that wasn't all - to make the shed super trendy, he then added Most read in Fabulous Thrilled with her new at-home salon, Nicola beamed: 'From the shell of a shed to a fully functioning salon, I'm obsessed!!' Reflecting on the shed's new look, she also added: 'What a I was sick of paying rent so moved into a shed at the bottom of my garden Nicola later confirmed that she got the 9.5ft by 13ft shed from Northern Garden Sheds, a company based in Blaydon-on-Tyne. While she went local for her natural oak flooring, for the paint colours, her man used Dulux paint in the shade Caramel Sand 5 on the panelling and the Peace shade from Homebase's own range, on the walls. Do I need planning permission to convert my shed? CONVERTING an existing shed or outbuilding into a self-contained living space will usually require you apply for planning permission. However, there is a "loophole" Brits can use to convert outbuildings into a tiny home without permission. Planning expert Speaking to The Sun, the Chartered Town Planner of 14 years' experience explained: "An outbuilding can be built using 'permitted development rights', meaning it does not need planning permission. "As long as you comply with the various restrictions and conditions." One of these is that the outbuilding can only be used for something 'ancillary' to your main living accommodation - examples include storage, a gym or a pool room. If the outbuilding is existing, converting it then into primary living accommodation IS allowed. Martin explained: "This is because internal changes to an existing building are not considered to be development at all under the Town and Country Planning Act. But like anything, there is one catch. The new living accommodation must still have some connection with your use of the main house. For instance, if your gran is living out there, she must still come into the house to eat. To accessorise the space, she nabbed her sideboard and chair from Daals and got her desk and lamp from IKEA. She also got a mirror and a stand from B&M, as well as a gorgeous vase from TK Maxx. Social media users react Nicola's TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ Not only this, but it's also amassed 49,000 likes, 192 comments and 6,296 saves. It looks absolutely gorgeous TikTok user Social media users were incredibly impressed by Nicola's One person said: 'This is stunning.' Another added: 'This is my dream.' A third commented: 'This is beautiful.' Meanwhile, someone else beamed: 'It looks absolutely gorgeous.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Setback to state as Supreme Court declines relief to Goa govt on TCP's Sec 17(2), ODPs
Panaji: In a major setback to state govt, Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant relief to the town and country planning (TCP) department, which had sought a stay on a high court judgment concerning the Section 17(2) matter and the two outline development plans (ODPs) of Calangute-Candolim and Arpora-Nagoa-Parra. Supreme Court In March, the high court struck down the rules and guidelines of the controversial Section 17(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1974, in the 'public interest'. State govt challenged the order in the Supreme Court. In June, the high court set aside govt's ODPs for five villages and directed the state to follow Regional Plan 2021 for the approval of plans and the grant of permissions in these villages. The two ODPs — Calangute-Candolim and Arpora-Nagoa-Parra — cannot operate, and the five villages of Calangute, Candolim, Arpora, Nagoa, and Parra will not be governed by them, a division bench comprising justices Bharati Dangre and Nivedita Mehta ruled. Supreme Court bench comprising justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice on the special leave petitions filed by state govt and the TCP department but proceeded to order a 'status quo' to be maintained, said Goa Foundation director Claude Alvares. 'This in effect means that all construction activities connected with the subject matters of the two judgments — and now subject matter of the appeals filed by the state — would have to remain at a standstill till the apex court disposes of the appeals,' he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ranked: The 25 Best Cities To Live In The World Learn More Undo Former Odisha high court chief justice, senior advocate S Murlidhar and senior advocate Shoeb Alam appeared for Goa Foundation in the two Section 17(2) appeals filed by Goa govt and TCP. Alvares said that the court has fixed the matter for Aug 26. 'There are more than 60 respondents in the three SLPs filed by the state and TCP, since the high court judgments were passed in a batch of writ petitions and PILs, including the PILs filed by Goa Foundation,' he said.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
20k sqm Pilerne hill conversion risks landslides, threatens lake
Panaji: The town and country planning department has given the greenlight to convert a 20,000 sqm land parcel on the Pilerne hillside that forms the buffer zone and catchment area for Pilerne's Saulem Lake. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This zone change effectively reintroduces elements of the controversial Regional Plan 2011 that was scrapped after a massive public protest. The conversion was provisionally granted under Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act. If granted final approval, this will see a steep hill slope being opened up for construction. The land parcel is currently marked as partly orchard with 'No Development Slope' in the Goa Regional Plan – 2021, meaning that the gradient is considered too steep for construction and is vulnerable to soil instability. 'In 2006, around the time RP-2011 was notified, over 90 trees were hacked down and the hill was burnt for days. This notification is yet another instance in the TCP's chequered history,' said professor of development studies Solano da Silva. The TCP granted provisional approval for change of zone under Section 39A for Survey No. 37/0 and 37/1 in Pilerne on June 18. The department has given a brief window for stakeholders to voice their concerns. Environmental experts argue that construction on such steep slopes could alter the natural water flow, exacerbating the risk of landslides. 'Allowing development activities on such steep hill slopes poses a severe risk of landslides in the future. This danger extends not only to structures within the converted property but also to adjacent properties with existing structures, which could face the brunt of slope erosion and altered water flow, potentially leading to loss of life and property,' said Pilerne Citizens Forum secretary Hilario Lobo. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The TCP has ignored the proximity to the eco-sensitive Saulem Lake, also known as Pilerne Lake, which was notified as a protected wetland on Dec 9 through a gazette notification. The Wetland Notification of 2018 clearly stated that a 'zone of influence' means part of the catchment area of the wetland or wetland complex. The lake functions as a natural funnelled aquifer, replenished by springs. The water resources department (WRD) has demarcated the buffer zone as a water catchment area under the Catchment Area Department Authority of Goa (CADA). Environmentalists say that the TCP department has failed to independently assess the gradient and slope, with ISRO satellite imagery analysis indicating the slope is greater than 25 degrees, which should classify it as no development slope.
