PANAJI: The town and country planning (TCP) department has approved the conversion of 15 land parcels to settlement zone, most of them in Ponda taluka. The Department said it has approved the proposals for change of zones for the plots that were earlier marked as orchard, natural cover, and no-development slope in the Regional Plan for Goa, 2021.
Of the 10 applications, most are for plots at Usgao, three are in Bardez, and two are at Ela, Old Goa. The TCP department will alter the RP 2021 using the Goa TCP Act’s Section 39A, which allows the department to change the zoning of a plot based on applications from the owners.
The department has given interested parties 30 days to voice their objections in writing.
Once the TCP department takes a final decision, the land will be demarcated as settlement area and construction activity will get the green light. “After scrutiny, the TCP department had placed the proposals along with the scrutiny reports before the TCP board for its recommendation and approval. The board, at its meetings held on July 10 and later on July 29, approved the proposals,” said chief town planner (planning) Rajesh Naik.
According to department officials, 234 land conversion applications have been received under Section 39A since it was introduced as an amendment to the Goa TCP Act in February. The newly introduced Section 39A allows the chief town planner to alter the RP or ODP, subject to public objections.
