Environmental organisation Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir (GFPK) has ob jected to four draft notifica tions issued under Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act, chal lenging the proposed No Development Zone (NDZ) exercise covering around 2.68 crore sq m of land across the State. The objections relate to notifications issued by the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department between May 14 and June 4, covering areas in Tiswadi, Bardez, Salcete, Pernem, Ponda, Mormugao, Bicholim and Canacona.
GFPK President Jack Mascarenhas said the or ganisation was concerned that existing ecological land-use classifications such as paddy fields, khaz ans, mangroves, salt pans, water bodies, orchards and natural cover could be re placed by a broader NDZ classification, potentially weakening their protection. He said the proposed changes could affect the ecological character and planning objectives under the Regional Plan for Goa, particularly the protection of khazan lands, which he described as important to Goa’s environmental, agri cultural and cultural herit age.
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GFPK also questioned the transparency of the process, alleging that the notifications do not in clude scrutiny reports, departmental comments, statutory agency recom mendations or supporting ecological, hydrological and climate-resilience studies. It further claimed that gram sabhas, panchayats, munic ipalities and local commu nities were not adequately consulted. It also pointed to the absence of publicly available TCP Board min utes relating to the propos als Mascarenhas urged the TCP Board to adopt a par ticipatory approach and consider GFPK’s objections and suggestions before tak ing a final decision on the proposed notifications.
