TCP converts 20k sqm land to settlement,accepts proposals for 1.3L sqm more

Panaji: The town and country planning (TCP) department has completed the conversion of 19,917sqm of land that was earlier classified as orchard and natural cover in the regional plan.

The TCP stated that the change of zone was carried out based on 18 proposals that were scrutinised and put in the public domain for feedback using provisions of Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act.The TCP department is using Section 39A to alter and modify the regional plan after the window for land conversion under Section 17(2) was virtually closed by the High Court.The 18 applications include proposals from Hyderabad-based firm Gangareddy Infra Pvt Ltd to convert 12,087sqm of orchard and no development slopes in Morjim to settlement.

In 2022, the same firm received a provisional NOC under Section 17(2) from the TCP to sub-divide a 13,964 sqm agricultural plot in Morjim. Gangareddy Infra has been converting orchard land on hilltops at Morjim for villas.The gazette notification issued on Thursday stated that the TCP board, headed by TCP minister Vishwajit Rane, gave “due consideration” to the suggestions received from the public before giving the green light for the 18 proposals for change of zone.

“The alteration and modification of the regional plan and the outline development plan as notified in this notification shall be subject to the outcome of the PIL writ petition nos 53 of 2024 and 54 of 2024, which are pending final disposal before the Bombay high court at Goa,” said chief town planner Vertika Dagur.Apart from this, the TCP department has also sought public feedback on 21 applications to convert 1.3 lakh sqm of land that is currently demarcated as natural cover, orchard land, and no development slope.

These applications include a proposal to convert 1.03lakh sqm at Naquerim, Quepem, for settlement and construction.Of the 21 applications, 14 proposals for land conversion are for plots in Ponda. The TCP has given 30 days for people to submit objections and suggestions about the proposed zoning changes. The department has kept all the proposals open for inspection in the regional plan cell of the town and country planning department.