Panaji: In a significant departure from recent trends, the town and country planning (TCP) department has proposed to classify large contiguous land parcels as non-developable areas under Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act while retaining the land in settlement zones in the Regional Plan 2021.The notification, cleared by TCP minister Vishwajit Rane in a meeting held on April 21, covers three major land parcels spanning over 28.4 lakh sqm across Bardez and Pernem. These proposals have been placed in the public domain for objections.The largest parcel is located in Ozorim in Pernem, covering 15.2 lakh sqm of land comprising orchard areas, natural cover, paddy fields, irrigation command areas and no-development slopes. The TCP Board has recommended that this entire tract be designated as a non-developable area, while retaining existing settlement zones.In Pomburpa in Bardez, another 9.1 lakh sqm spread across multiple survey holdings has been proposed for similar treatment. The land includes a mix of natural cover, private forest, orchard areas and slopes. The recommendation seeks to restrict development across the larger parcel by classifying it as non-developable, except for areas already under settlement.A third proposal in Mandrem, Pernem, covering 4 lakh sqm, includes orchard land, irrigation command areas and slopes. This parcel too has been recommended as a non-developable area, limiting future construction activity.This marks a clear shift from earlier notifications, which largely focused on incremental conversion of agricultural and natural land into settlement zones.The sudden shift comes as the opposition to Section 39A of the TCP Act faces stronger opposition. The Enough is Enough movement led by retired Allahabad high court chief justice Ferdino Rebello is gaining strength as it moves to mobilise opposition against Section 39A and piecemeal land conversions.As per procedure, the proposals are open for public suggestions for a period of 30 days, after which they will be reconsidered by the TCP Board before a final decision is taken.
