The town and country planning (TCP) department approved 11 applications for a change of zone in the Regional Plan for Goa, 2021, the outline development plan (ODP) of the Calangute–Candolim planning area, 2025, and the ODP of the Parra– Arpora–Nagoa planning area, 2030.
A total of 1.2 lakh sqm is set to be converted, of which close to half is for a luxury real estate firm. The applications, approved under Section 39A of the Act, pertain to land that was earmarked as paddy fields, orchard land, irrigation area, and natural cover. The department has kept a 30-day period for objections and suggestions, after which the TCP board will issue the final approval.
Of the 1.2 lakh sqm approved for conversion, 57,225sqm of partly orchard land and no-development slope in Parcem, Pernem, is for Lilah Project Realty One LLP, a luxury real estate firm that has links with Isprava Luxury Realty One LLP. The firm applied to convert the land to settlement for construction purposes.
The TCP department granted approval for Lilah Project’s application with a condition that orchard land on the no-development slope will not be touched. Similarly, Prestige Acres Pvt Ltd received approval to use 24,625sqm of warehousing land for settlement and housing. Most of the proposed conversion applications pertain to the areas in Pernem and Bardez. “After scrutinising these proposals of zone-change, the department placed them along with scrutiny reports before the board for its approval. The board met in July to approve these proposals,” said a TCP official.
TCP minister Vishwajit Rane introduced Section 39A to allow the chief town planner to modify the Regional Plan or ODPs based on applications by landowners. Citizens can file their objections within 30 days, as per the notification. Copies of the map and notes containing the proposed changes are available for inspection in the Regional Plan Cell
