Goa Forward Party Objects to Conversion of Zuari Industries Land in Sancoale Into Settlement Zone

The Goa Forward Party (GFP) has filed a for mal objection with the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department against a pro posal to convert over 1.54 lakh sqms of Zuari Indus tries’ industrial-use land in Sancoale into a settlement zone. The objection, addressed to the Chief Town Planner (Planning) and received at the TCP headquarters in Panjim on Wednesday, refers to land parcels un der Survey Nos. 110/1 and 189/1. The proposal, pub lished in the Official Gazette dated October 30, 2025, seeks to alter the zoning classification of land that was originally granted by the Comunidade of Sancoale to Zuari Industries Limited for industrial purposes — to establish industries, gener ate employment for Goans, and contribute to Goa’s economic growth. GFP said the proposed change from industrial to settlement use ‘violates the original intent’ and represents ‘a gross breach of public trust’. The party asserted that land provided for public benefit cannot be diverted for spec ulative real estate ventures. “The land was given by Goa’s first Chief Minister Bhau saheb Bandodkar to create employment for Goans, not to be sold, converted, and handed to builders. We will not allow Goa’s green cover to be turned into real estate profit. Goa is not for sale,” the party said. In its objection, GFP warned that approving the change of zone would re ward non-compliance and set ‘a dangerous precedent’, encouraging similar diver sions of land allocated for public use. The party de scribed the proposal as ‘an abuse of public purpose’ and said such decisions erode public confidence in the planning process. Raising environmental and technical concerns, GFP noted that the land lies next to a natural lake that forms part of Sancoale’s hydro logical system, serving as a groundwater recharge basin and supporting surrounding biodiversity. It cautioned that any conversion for in tensive residential or com mercial use would disrupt natural percolation, worsen existing water scarcity, and lead to runoff pollution, in cluding sewage and debris contaminating the lake. The party also listed likely consequences such as loss of vegetation, soil erosion, and increased flood risk due to the reduction of natural drainage areas. “This zone change will collapse the eco logical balance and burden Sancoale’s already fragile in frastructure,” the objection stated. The letter argued that Sancoale has witnessed ‘unchecked urbanisation’ in the past decade, marked by severe water shortages, poor waste management, and traffic congestion from un planned construction. GFP said such cumulative pres sures necessitate a scientific Carrying Capacity Study and a Cumulative Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before the TCP considers any further conversions. Citing provisions under the Goa Town and Coun try Planning Act, 1974, the party said the Department is duty-bound to uphold principles of sustainable de velopment and ensure that planning decisions protect public health and environ mental integrity. Proceeding without the required as sessments, it warned, would amount to ‘planning mal practice’. GFP has therefore de manded that the TCP reject the proposal ‘in its entirety’ and suspend all future zone change applications in San coale until comprehensive studies are conducted and made public. It also urged the Department to involve the comunidade and local residents as stakeholders in future land-use decisions, saying planning must be transparent and communi ty-driven. “The people of Sancoale and Mormugao deserve sus tainable, transparent, and community-oriented devel opment — not reckless ex ploitation of land for profit,” the party added