Demand action against Rajesh Naik, Chief Planner of Goa

A list of charges against Rajesh Naik follow:

1. Ignored Public Input and Legal Procedures in Planning

Rajesh Naik ignored mandatory public consultations for the Outline Development Plans (ODPs) of areas like Calangute, Candolim, Arpora, and Parra. By publishing incomplete information and making final decisions without citizen input, he broke the law (TCP Act, Sections 34, 35, and 39). He also violated the professional code of planners, which emphasizes respecting public participation.

Why it matters: Your right to influence how your community is planned was denied, leading to development decisions that may harm your environment and way of life.

2. Failure to Provide Expert Input as a Planner

As the only qualified planner on the Town and Country Planning Board (TCPB), Mr. Naik should provide expert advice on planning matters. Instead, he has merely acted as a note-taker, neglecting his duty to give clear, objective opinions that are critical to proper land-use decisions.

Why it matters: This failure allows unchecked, unplanned development that can worsen traffic, strain resources, and damage the environment.

3. Arbitrary Change of Land Zones / Land Conversions

Rajesh Naik led an “expert” committee that changed the land use of over 24 lakh square meters of green areas based on unverified reports submitted by private companies and individuals. This includes approving settlement zones in hilly lands, water bodies, and other environmentally sensitive areas, leading to incorrect decisions that favour private real-estate interests over public welfare.

Why it matters: These arbitrary changes will result in poor infrastructure, traffic congestion, and increase the risk of flooding and landslides, directly affecting current residents' quality of life.

4. Neglecting Over 900 Hill Cutting Complaints

Despite over 900 complaints of illegal hill cutting, Mr. Naik has taken no action, violating people’s constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment.

Why it matters: Ignoring these complaints leads to environmental destruction, landslides, erosion, and the loss of Goa's natural beauty.

5. Lack of Action on Illegal Structures

Naik has granted significant Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and height increases—up to 200%—to over a hundred private properties without issuing any public notices. These decisions ignore the impact on neighboring communities and environmental sustainability.

Why It Matters: Arbitrarily increasing FAR favors private interests, leading to overcrowded areas, traffic issues, and strain on essential services like water and waste management.

6. Inability to perform his duty as Competent Authority for Heritage Conservation

Naik has refused his legal duty (AMASR Act, 2010) to clearly demarcate the regulatory buffer zones around historic monuments.

Why it matters: This negligence has caused controversies like the illegal bungalow in Old Goa to come up.

7. Lack of Transparency in Public Notices

Mr. Naik has issued unclear public notices on land zoning changes, omitting key information. This lack of transparency prevents the public from participating in critical decisions about land use in Goa.

Why It Matters: Without access to clear information, citizens are left in the dark, unable to voice their concerns or oppose harmful developments.

8. Denial of Information Under RTI Act

Rajesh Naik has refused to provide information requested under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, a legal requirement. This goes against his professional commitment to share knowledge and provide clear information to the public.

Why It Matters: His refusal blocks access to crucial information, raising questions about what he might be hiding and undermining trust in public planning processes.

Our demands

1. 1. Cancelling extension of Rajesh J. Naik as Chief Planner and initiating high-level inquiry into all actions taken since September 2017.

2. 2. Suspend all permissions granted under the 2022 ODPs mentioned in point #1 and reevaluate all zone changes by a new, qualified expert committee.

3. 3. Halt all zone changes under Section 17(2) made since December 2022, and reassess them individually on merits through qualified experts.

4. 4. Enforce a 50-year construction ban on properties where:

   • - Illegal hill cutting or filling is recorded.
   • - Construction was done without TCP clearance.
   • • Zone changes were approved based on fraudulent details provided by the applicant.

Sign this petition to demand an end to illegal, unplanned, and harmful development in Goa. Together, we can safeguard our land and future