MARGAO
The gram sabha of Dramapur-Sirlim village panchayat on Sunday unanimously rejected the government notification declaring village lands as “No Development Zone/No Development Area”.
The gram sabha, chaired by Sarpanch Avita Pereira, unanimously resolved to oppose and demand the complete withdrawal of the Government of Goa’s notification dated July 9, 2026, issued under Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act, 1974. The notification proposes to declare large tracts of land in the revenue villages of Dramapur and Sirlim as “No Development Zone (NDZ)/Non-Developable Area (NDA)”.
The notification affects 1,501 survey holdings in Sirlim village and 1,709 survey holdings in Dramapur village — land that villagers said had already been identified in the Regional Plan 2021 as paddy fields, paddy fields with irrigation, command areas, khazan lands, orchards, forests, water bodies and other ecologically sensitive categories.
The meeting witnessed an uproar following an altercation between some members, prompting others to intervene and restore calm.
Opposing the notification, members pointed out that the village panchayat had prepared and submitted its own Regional Plan proposal in 2009 following extensive public consultation and Gram Sabha approval. They said further representations and objections were submitted in 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2024, but none appeared to have been considered before the notification was issued.
They said the notification was issued without placing in the public domain any survey-wise scientific study, environmental impact assessment, hydrological study, biodiversity report or planning report explaining the basis for the NDZ/NDA designation.
During the meeting, a note issued by TCP Minister Vishwajit P Rane dated June 26, 2026, directing that the listed survey holdings be maintained as “No Development Zone”, was read out.
The gram sabha resolved to formally request Velim MLA Cruz Silva to raise the matter in the upcoming session of the Goa Legislative Assembly and seek a clear response from the Town and Country Planning Minister on who provided the survey numbers included in the minister’s note and the subsequent notification, and on what basis they were selected, given the alleged absence of any scientific study, survey-wise justification or a legally recognised “No Development Zone” category.
Speaking at the gram sabha, MLA Cruz Silva assured villagers that their concerns would be strongly taken up with the government. He said the voices of local communities could not be ignored when policies directly affected their communities and future generations.
