The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department has sanctioned the conversion of 15 land parcels to settlement zones. The majority of these conversions are concentrated in Ponda taluka, with additional plots in Bardez and Ela, Old Goa. The decision aligns with the department’s ongoing efforts to adapt land use to evolving regional needs.
The newly approved plots were previously designated as orchard, natural cover, or no-development slope under the Regional Plan for Goa, 2021. The TCP Department’s action, executed under Section 39A of the Goa TCP Act, facilitates the reclassification of these areas following applications from landowners. This legislative provision grants the TCP Department authority to modify the zoning of specific plots, thereby permitting construction and development activities. The TCP Department has initiated a 30-day period during which stakeholders can submit written objections to the proposed changes. This feedback window is part of the procedural transparency required before final approval and demarcation of the land as settlement areas. Chief Town Planner (Planning) Rajesh Naik confirmed that the proposals underwent rigorous scrutiny before being approved by the TCP board in meetings held on July 10 and July 29.
Since the amendment of the Goa TCP Act in February, which introduced Section 39A, the department has received 234 land conversion applications. This provision empowers the chief town planner to adjust the Regional Plan (RP) or Outline Development Plan (ODP), contingent on addressing public objections. The approval of these land conversions is anticipated to significantly impact local development, opening avenues for residential and commercial construction. This move underscores the TCP Department’s commitment to balancing developmental pressures with strategic land use planning, aiming to accommodate Goa’s growing population and infrastructural needs.
