log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline FRIDAY JANUARY 24, 2025 GOA Revolutionising mobility: Bharat Auto Expo 2025 unveils the future of transportation REVIEW: Hyundai Creta Electric: A feature packed EV for the Indian market ON PAGE 2 Road repairs gain momentum across State, but Panaji grapples with Smart City Mhadei matter fails to come up for hearing in Supreme Court Over 16,000 Laadli claims hinge on marriage certificates IDC revokes occupancy certificate of automobile service centres in Verna Indians queue up for pre-term deliveries in US as birthright citizenship deadline looms The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 217 MMC’s ABC programme under scrutiny as stray dog population surges in Margao page 7 Facebook.com/thegoan 3 GOA MP seeks action on dumping of mud in Chicalim water body 5 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO The power of fruits for your skin 10 ODPs: Uphold SC order on 5 villages, HC directs govt ALLOWS APPLICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION WITH A RIDER THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Thursday directed the State government to continue complying with the Supreme Court’s order prohibiting any changes to five villages of Calangute, Candolim, Arpora, Nagoa and Parra.  The Bench, however, permitted the State to consider applications for construction with a rider that no construction can commence until the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is disposed off. In July last year, the Supreme Court remitted the issues raised in the PIL filed by the Goa Foundation -- challenging the ODPs of the five villages -- to the High Court for expeditious hearing. “While the matter(s) are being decided, the present position with regard to the concerned areas be maintained,” the SC had stated.  Adv Norma Alvares, representing the petitioner NGO stated that as of July 15, 2024 FREEZE ON DEVELOPMENT „„HC asked State government to continue complying with SC order prohibiting any changes to Calangute, Candolim, Arpora, Nagoa and Parra „„State permitted to consider applications for construction with a rider that no construction can commence until PIL is disposed off „„Matter scheduled for final disposal on February 20 the Supreme Court had expressly directed that no changes should be made in the five villages. During the hearing on Thursday, when the government sought to know whether it could grant permission for construction, the High Court responded that while it may consider, no construction could proceed based on such „„Public Interest Litigation to be heard without any adjournments  SUPREME COURT’S TAKE „„In July last year, the apex court had said approvals.  The High Court subsequently scheduled the matter for final disposal on February 20 stating that the PIL will be heard without any adjournments.  As per the NGO, the government had notified two ODPs on December 15, 2022, but later withdrew all five villages as planning areas under the “while the matter(s) are being decided, the present position with regard to the concerned areas be maintained”. FLASHBACK: As per the NGO, govt had notified two ODPs on Dec 15, 2022, but later withdrew all five villages as planning areas under TCP Act. Consequently, the two ODPs became invalid, and the land use of the five villages reverted to the Regional Plan 2021.  Town & Country Planning Act. Consequently, the two ODPs became invalid, and the land use of the five villages reverted to Regional Plan 2021.  However, on December 22, 2022, the government issued a circular directing the TCP to continue granting approvals based on the withdrawn ODPs. This circular was challenged by the Goa Foun- dation, and the High Court stayed its operation through a detailed judgment on February 14, 2024.  Subsequently, on February 28, 2024, the government issued an ordinance introducing Section 19(3) in the TCP Act to nullify the effect of the High Court’s stay order. The ordinance allowed the ODPs to remain valid even in the absence of a designated planning area. This ordinance was again challenged by the petitioner, and the High Court issued another stay order in May 2024, suspending the two ODPs of these villages pending the petition’s hearing in July 2024.  The govt then approached the SC with a Special Leave Petition, which initially stayed the High Court’s order. Subsequently, the Goa Foundation moved the SC to vacate the stay, arguing that it had completed substantial research into the changes made in the two ODPs concerning the eco-zones of the five villages. SPORTS Indian shuttlers’ campaign ends at Indonesia Masters 15 Oppn MLAs push for freeze on RP21, mega projects ban Move 2 private member resolutions THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Opposition MLAs moved two crucial private member resolutions pertaining to freezing of Regional Plan 2021 and to ban issuing fresh permissions to mega residential projects in the village areas, before the Goa Legislative Assembly, which is slated to meet for winter session on February 6-7. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Velim MLA Cruz Silva has moved a resolution demanding to freeze RP 2021 and commence work on new RP. The MLA said that the government should issue notification to commence the work of preparing new RP by defining a time bound, transparent and open process with inputs from local bodies, MLAs, NGOs and other stakeholders. He also said that since RP 21 has crossed the horizon period, the same may be frozen and no permissions or technical clearance be issued to any land development or construction work, except for individual houses, until new RP is in place. THE TWO RESOLUTIONS „„Govt should issue notification to commence work of preparing new Regional Plan by defining a time bound, transparent and open process with inputs from local bodies, MLAs, NGOs and other stakeholders „„Govt should define the term ‘Mega projects’ and no mega residential projects should be allowed in villages to avoid major impact on demographic and environmental changes. On the other hand, RGP St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar in the resolution demanded that the government define the term Mega projects and no mega residential projects be allowed in villages to avoid major impact.   Meanwhile, the Business Advisory Committee meeting of Goa Legislative Assembly is postponed to Friday in view of Chief Minister’s visit to Delhi.