The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane following which a notification was issued by the department on July 16. Earlier this week, the government had proposed another 82 lakh sq mts for NDZ status. With the latest notification, the total area proposed for protection by the TCP under Regional Plan has now crossed 15 crore sq m over the past two months.
According to the latest draft notification, a total of 1,02,67,954 sq mts have been brought under the NDZ category.
The largest share of the newly notified land is in Cuncolim with 40,89,800 sq mts, followed by Deussa (16,73,530 sq mts), Cavorim (15,71,572 sq mts), Chandor (9,50,188 sq mts), Davorlim (9,31,483 sq mts) and Veroda (8,19,371 sq mts), all in Salcete taluka of South Goa district.
The notification also includes 1,46,451 sq mts in Pilliem in Dharbandora taluka, along with 21,922 sq mts in Deao, 10,512 sq mts in Xeldem, and 1,125 sq mts in Sirvoi in Quepem taluka of Kushavati district.
The proposed notified areas comprise ecologically sensitive landscapes, including paddy fields, natural slopes and low-lying regions that are critical for groundwater recharge, flood mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Bringing these areas under the NDZ category is expected to curb unregulated construction and safeguard Goa's fragile ecology.
The latest notification forms part of the state government's ongoing exercise to restore environmentally sensitive areas to the NDZ category. The department has invited public suggestions and objections to the proposed NDZ areas.
