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T&CP ordinance a dead issue: CM NT Staff Reporter Panaji Nov 19: The Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsingh Rane, today declared that the ordinance amending the Town and Country Planning Act was as good as scrapped and that it would not be implemented, even as he added that a new regional plan for the state would be drawn soon. Mr Rane told reporters at a press conference in the presence of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mr Ravi Naik, at Congress House that a new law would be enacted after a fresh bill was discussed on the floor of the state legislative assembly. The ordinance was a dead issue and was as good as scrapped and that it would not be implemented, he said. He also said that the government has acceded to the demand of Ms Victoria Fernandes and excluded rural areas from her St Cruz constituency from the ambit of Planning and Development Authority adding that he was hopeful that she would now not do anything that would hurt the interest of the state. Henceforth, only township areas would be brought under PDAs, he said adding that if any panchayat wanted inclusion of its areas under PDA, the government would consider it. He also said that many things have happened in the state without ordinances. The Chief Minister also said that a bill for amendment of the T&CP Act was already listed for introduction and passing in the last session but was withdrawn by the government because some technicalities were not followed. He also told that Ms Fernandes has been apprised of the government decision. He ruled out threat of disruption to International Film Festival of India saying that it was a prestigious event and no Goan loving the state would engage in doing something that would bring bad name to the state. He also said that anybody trying to disrupt the event would be dealt with as per law. The IFFI event would help in encouraging talents in art in the state and that Goans would henceforth need not go to other places to get exposure, he said adding that scheme for providing assistance to filmmakers was under preparation and would be announced soon. He also disclosed that many agencies, including some media groups, have evinced keen interest in totally funding the future film festivals and that future film festivals would be self-sustaining. The Entertainment Society of Goa had so far collected about Rs 1.5 crore from the sponsors of the event, while the government would spend Rs 4 crore, he added. The Chief Minister said that efforts at making Goa an entertainment hub were on and that the government was considering a proposal of a reputed Indian company which wants to set up an animation studio here. Mr Rane, while replying to a question on whether change of the minister of information and broadcasting would have on Goa being a permanent venue for IFFI, said that the Centre had made a commitment to make Goa as permanent venue and hoped that it would keep its commitment. Replying to another question on the agitation of the taxi operators in South Goa, he said that his government was working to find a solution to the vexed issue. Mr Naik said that said that he welcomed the announcement made by the Chief Minister, excluding rural areas from the ambit of PDAs and restricting PDAs only to urban areas.
