TCP dept gives nod to convert 29.7k sqm land under Sec 39A

Panaji: The Town and Country Planning (TCP) department has approved the conversion of another 29,690 sqm of orchard land and natural cover under Section 39A of the TCP Act. This time, the conversion of eco-sensitive land to settlement zones affects the villages of Utorda, Agonda, Olaulim, Assagao, Reis Magos and Moira.

The department has said that the final approval for conversion will be notified after objections from the public are heard by the TCP board and will be subject to the Writ petition that challenges Section 39A of the TCP Act.

The TCP department received proposals for change of zone, which were placed before its board along with scrutiny reports for approval. The eight applications for change of zone under Section 39A were approved by the board at the meeting held on June 13.

As per rules, the board has given a 30-day window for suggestions and objections from the public and other stakeholders. The conversion proposals are available for inspection in the Regional Plan Cell at the TCP’s office at Patto.

In the last three weeks, the TCP department approved the conversion of over 5.5 lakh sq mts of land under Section 39A—a provision meant for minor land use changes.