Proposal takes total NDZ area identified this month beyond 1.14 crore sq mtrs
PANAJI
The Department of Town and Country Planning (TCP) has proposed an additional 31.64 lakh sq m of land in Tiswadi and Salcete talukas to be notified as No Development Zone (NDZ) under the Regional Plan 2021, further tightening restrictions on development activities in ecologically sensitive areas.
With this latest proposal, the total area proposed for NDZ protection this month has crossed 1.14 crore sq m, following the notification of nearly 10 lakh sq m in Pernem last month.
According to a notification issued on Thursday, the TCP department has proposed 13,04,343 sq m of land at Mormobi-o-Pequeno in Tiswadi as NDZ. The area includes mangroves, khazan land, salt pans and paddy fields, all considered environmentally sensitive ecosystems.
Another 4,55,088 sq m at Murda in Tiswadi has also been proposed for NDZ status.
In Salcete taluka, the department has proposed 13,01,625 sq m at Loutolim, mainly consisting of mangroves and paddy fields, for inclusion under NDZ.
Similarly, 4,55,088 sq m of land at Navelim, comprising water bodies and orchard land, has also been identified for protection.
The latest move follows a series of NDZ proposals announced by the department in recent weeks. Last week, TCP proposed notifying over 4.39 lakh sq m of land in Tiswadi taluka as NDZ under the Regional Plan 2021.
Earlier, the department had earmarked 82.84 lakh sq m of land across Sattari, Pernem, Mormugao and Salcete as NDZ, in addition to the 10 lakh sq m notified in Pernem last month.
TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane had earlier announced that the department aims to bring over 10 crore sq m of land under the NDZ framework to conserve ecologically sensitive areas and prevent unregulated development.
The department has invited suggestions and objections from the public within 30 days of the notification before finalising the proposals.
