Panaji: High court of Bombay at Goa has admitted a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Damiao Telles and eight others and stayed the implementation of the 'outline development plan ( ODP ) Calangute-Candolim 2025' till the matter is decided by the court.The division bench comprising Justice N M Jamdar and Justice Nutan D Sardessai allowed the government two weeks' time to file a reply in the matter.The judges have also restrained the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) from granting any permission and occupancy certificate for any development or construction based on the plan.Telles and others had filed the petition, alleging that (NGPDA) had sought to implement the draft plan without considering public objections and issuing a notification in the official gazette indicating that the plan has been finalized.NGPDA had notified the draft plan for Calangute , Candolim, areas of Baga and Arpora last year on November 23, 2016, for suggestions and objections for a period of 60 days after TCP approved it. But elections to Goa assembly were announced on January 4, 2017.S T Puttaraju, chief town planner, TCP had issued a letter to NGPDA dated December 16, 2016, stating that the government was adopting the plan.The period of 60 days to allow public objections and suggestions from November 23, 2016, was to end during the third week of January 2017.The petitioners had prayed that the court stay the letter seeking to make the ODP operational till their case is heard and disposed off.The petitioners had also prayed that the court pass an ad interim order or direction, restraining the respondents (number 1 to 4) from proceeding with or notifying the Calangute Candolim ODP 2025 and granting any permission and occupancy certificate for any development or construction based on the draft plan.

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