Mangroves, fields and khazan lands earmarked for zone change; Shiroda has largest share
PANAJI
More than 9.20 crore square metres of land across Goa has been proposed for classification as No-Development Zones (NDZs), with the largest chunk, over 8.87 crore square metres—comprising mangrove forests in Shiroda, Ponda. With these latest proposals, the total area earmarked for NDZ status by the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department has crossed 13 cr sq mtrs in just one month.
According to a notification the proposals were approved by the TCP Board during its 253rd meeting held on May 18 and have now been opened for public objections and suggestions.
The largest area proposed for protection is located in Shiroda, Ponda, where 8,87,217.97 square metres of mangrove forests have been recommended for inclusion under the NDZ category.
The Board has also recommended NDZ status for several other environmentally sensitive tracts across the State. These include 12.40 lakh square metres in Benaulim comprising paddy fields, orchards and irrigation command areas; 8.32 lakh square metres in Guirim consisting of paddy fields and orchards; 7.65 lakh square metres in Cavelossim covering paddy fields, mangroves, water bodies and khazan lands; and 5.42 lakh square metres in Tiracol, Pernem, where land comprising natural cover, orchards and eco-tourism sites has been proposed as non-developable.
Several smaller parcels in Murda, Morambi-O-Pequeno, Carambolim, Chorao, Curca, Bastora, Aldona, Cortalim, Carapur, Borim, Bandora and Pamelabhat have also been identified due to the presence of mangroves, paddy fields, khazan lands, water bodies and other environmentally sensitive features.
The proposals were processed under the Goa Town and Country Planning (Change of Zone of Land in the Regional Plan or the Outline Development Plan) Rules, 2024. The TCP Board has invited objections and suggestions from the public within 30 days from the date of publication of the notification in the Official Gazette.
Earlier last week, the department had proposed more than two cr sq mtrs of land, including several patches of private forests, as NDZ. The notification protects 9.30 lakh square metres near Panaji in Calapur (St Cruz) village panchayat which has mangroves and the paddy fields. The traditional Khazan land at Carambolim village in North Goa admeasuring 29.24 lakh sq mtrs among others.
Before that a total area proposed for NDZ protection was around 1.14cr sq mtrs, following the notification of nearly 10 lakh square metres in Pernem in April.
