The Bombay High Court at Goa has quashed the Outline Development Plans (ODPs) for five coastal villages, cancelling land conversions totalling nearly 17 lakh square metres. The ruling affects Calangute, Candolim, Parra, Arpora, and Nagoa, where widespread zoning irregularities had sparked environmental and legal concerns. The court’s decision temporarily stays implementation, giving authorities four weeks to approach the Supreme Court for relief.
The court found that the process behind the ODPs was deeply flawed, with a review committee citing serious violations in land zoning practices. Over 16.94 lakh square metres were converted through arbitrary amendments to the Regional Plan 2021. These included unauthorised changes in land use, reduction of road widths, and reclassification of protected zones, which enabled backdoor legalisation of unauthorised constructions and threatened ecological balance in the affected villages.
Concerns were raised about the manner in which low-lying paddy fields were turned into development zones, and sloped lands from No Development Zones were shifted into settlement classifications. Additionally, commercial zoning was granted to plots lacking proper access. Experts pointed out that such changes contributed to increased traffic congestion, loss of agricultural land, and long-term environmental damage, with planning decisions appearing to prioritise private interests over community welfare.
According to the court, the decisions based on the circular issued in December 2022 and the executive order from August 2024 lacked transparency and legal foundation. The high-level committee concluded that these zoning decisions were not made in public interest and violated planning norms under the Regional Plan 2021. The court’s ruling mandates a reversal of the illegal land conversions and a restoration of the earlier zoning designations.
The TCP Department, which issued 745 zoning certificates and 141 technical clearances based on the now-invalidated ODPs, has been granted a four-week window to seek intervention from the Supreme Court. While the stay allows time for legal remedy, residents and environmental groups have welcomed the ruling as a significant step toward safeguarding Goa’s coastal ecology and ensuring accountable urban planning. Stakeholders now await the next legal developments.
The High Court’s decision to scrap the ODPs and related land conversions marks a key victory for sustainable planning and environmental accountability in Goa. As the legal battle potentially moves to the Supreme Court, the ruling reinforces the need for transparent zoning, fair land use practices, and community-first urban development. Restoring the affected lands could help reverse ecological damage and uphold planning integrity in the coastal belt.
