Paddy fields at Cavelossim to be restored: Rane

Panaji: The town and country planning (TCP) department has issued a notification to restore 1 lakh sqm of agricultural land, which was designated as a settlement area in the Regional Plan 2021, to a no-development zone. The notification follows strong objections by locals and Cavelossim panchayat.

“In the past, they put wrongly represented papers. We are reverting the land to its original use of paddy field. After going through the file, we have taken a decision to restore the land,” said Rane.

Villagers and activists protested against a proposed real estate project in the low-lying agricultural area to prevent environmental damage and protect the village’s farming heritage. The particular land has mangroves, with partly orchard and partly paddy fields, which were being cleared up and filled to pave the way for three villas. In March, the Cavelossim panchayat held a site inspection to examine the permissions given for three villas that were slated to be built in low-lying areas and paddy fields. In the Regional Plan 2021, the land was earmarked as a settlement area. The panchayat wrote to the TCP to revoke the technical clearance. Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas also conveyed his concerns.

Locals said the TCP department granted technical clearance for the three villas based on the zoning in the RP. Locals said that the low-lying areas acted as a catchment area for rainfall and if the land was filled up, the nearby areas would suffer flooding.

Rane said more announcements will come regarding land conservation based on a study that the department has conducted.