Project to include a 200-bed hospital and hostel block
PANAJI
The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted environmental clearance (EC) for the long-delayed expansion and redevelopment of the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB), including a new 200-bedded hospital and a hostel block at Bambolim.
During its meeting held last month, the SEIAA decided to approve the proposal after examining the documents submitted by the project proponent and conducting a site inspection.
“After scrutinising the documents submitted by the project proponent and after conducting a site inspection, the Committee decided to recommend the proposal to Goa SEIAA for the grant of Environmental Clearance excluding the OPD block,” the minutes of the meeting state.
The authority has clarified that the clearance is subject to submission of several mandatory approvals, including an approved plan from the Town and Country Planning Department or Planning and Development Authority, a Water Availability Certificate from the Drinking Water Department, and a Power Availability Certificate from the Electricity Department.
“The project proponent shall obtain all necessary clearances or permissions from relevant agencies, including the Town Planning Authority, before commencement of work. All construction must be carried out in accordance with local building byelaws,” the authority said.
The proposed project will be developed over an area of 41,985.85 square metres and will include a 200-bedded hospital, a 100-bedded hospital block, a day-care centre, hostel facilities and outpatient departments.
SEIAA has also laid down environmental conditions, including that at least 20 per cent of the open space must remain pervious as per local building byelaws. Surfaces such as grass pavers, paver blocks with at least 50 per cent openings, and landscaped areas will be considered pervious.
The environmental clearance will remain valid for a period of ten years from the date of issuance.
As part of the green development plan, the authority has directed that one tree must be planted for every 80 square metres of land. Given that the total project plot area is 2,30,250 square metres, the project proponent will be required to plant at least 2,878 trees and maintain a minimum survival rate of 80 per cent. Details of the green cover development, including the survival rate and location of plantations, must be submitted to the authority as part of six-monthly compliance reports.
In the recently announced Goa Budget for 2026-27, the government has earmarked Rs 82 crore for the project, which is expected to be completed by December 2026. Meanwhile, citing the stigma often associated with mental health, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has also announced plans to change the name of the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour.
