In a significant development reflecting growing public concern over land-use changes in Goa, the Assolda gram sab ha, on Sunday, unanimous ly passed a resolution op posing the conversion of land under Section 39A of the Goa Town and Coun try Planning Act, 1974, within the village jurisdic tion. Assolda is the second panchayat after Varca to pass this resolution. The resolution comes amid increasing public debate over the use of Section 39A, which al lows changes in land use under the Regional Plan.
Villagers expressed con cern that piecemeal con version of ecologically sensitive lands could ad versely affect agriculture, water resources, village infrastructure, and the en vironmental character of Assolda. During the meeting, res idents emphasised that any proposal seeking to alter the Regional Plan should first receive the consent of the gram sabha and be backed by compre hensive environmental and social assessments. The resolution is also seen as a response to the proposed conversion of Survey No. 15/6 at Hodar, Assolda, from orchard with no development slope to settlement zone, for which objections have already been submitted to the Chief Town Planner. Earlier, Sushant Vast of Curchorem had filed a detailed objection under Rule 4 of the Goa Town and Country Planning (Change of Zone of Land in the Regional Plan or the Outline Development Plan) Rules, 2024, challenging the proposed Section 39A conversion of Survey No. 15/6. His representation raised several concerns, including the absence of gram sabha consultation, the lack of en vironmental and social impact assessments, the absence of a carrying capacity study, threats to orchard land and no development slope areas, increased pressure on water resources and village infrastructure, and the violation of the principles of sustainable development and the public trust doctrine.
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The objection also cited constitutional and environmen tal law principles while requesting that the proposal be rejected until comprehensive scientific studies and public consultations are completed. “Today’s resolution sends a clear message that the people of Assolda want planned and sustainable devel opment, not arbitrary changes to the Regional Plan. The gram sabha has reaffirmed that decisions affecting our environment, water resources, and future generations cannot be taken without the participation of the local community. This resolution strengthens the voice of the villagers in protecting Assolda’s ecological heritage,” said Aditya Desai. “The Regional Plan exists to protect environmentally sensitive lands. Converting orchard areas and no develop ment slopes into settlement zones without proper studies will permanently alter the village landscape.
We support development that is lawful, transparent, and environ mentally responsible, but not piecemeal planning under Section 39A without public participation,” stated Dattaraj Raut Dessai. “I am encouraged that the gram sabha has formally opposed the proposed Section 39A land conversion. My objection highlighted the absence of gram sabha consul tation, environmental studies, and a carrying capacity assessment. Today’s resolution reinforces those concerns and demonstrates that local communities expect trans parent planning based on scientific assessment and public participation rather than ad hoc land-use changes,” said Sushant Vast.
The gram sabha’s resolution is expected to be forward ed to the relevant authorities as part of the official record and may form an important representation while the State considers pending Section 39A applications affect ing Assolda and surrounding areas. “In the gram sabha, we passed a resolution opposing land conversion under Section 39A. In our panchayat, at Hodar, there is Survey No. 15/6, for which villagers had submitted an application seeking a resolution against its conversion under Section 39A. We took up the matter in the gram sabha, and the resolution was passed unanimously,” confirmed Assolda sarpanch Custodio Fernandes.
