In a significant move aimed at environmental conservation, the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Board has decided to classify the area surrounding the Zuari Industrial Estate in Sancoale as a No Development Zone (NDZ).
TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane said the decision was taken following the Supreme Court’s stay on an earlier recommendation that sought to remove the area’s private forest classification.
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The issue pertains to around 554 survey numbers in Sancoale, covering nearly 1.5 crore square metres of land. According to Rane, the Forest Department has already filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court affirming that the area will continue to be treated as private forest.
“The TCP Board has resolved to designate the area as a No Development Zone in view of the ongoing legal position and the need to protect ecologically sensitive land,” Rane said.
The decision is expected to have a major impact on future development proposals in the region, ensuring that the land remains protected from construction and other developmental activities while the matter remains under judicial scrutiny.
The move has been viewed as a significant step towards safeguarding forested areas in Sancoale and reinforcing conservation efforts in the state. The matter continues to be linked to proceedings before the Supreme Court regarding the status of the land and its classification as private forest.
