Tag: Goa

Latest StoriesRecent Stories

Goa government loses ₹107 crore as TCP gives free FAR to 321 commercial units

PANAJI: Goa has lost Rs 107 crore as the town and country planning (TCP) department gave concessions to commercial establishments by not levying fees for additional floor area ratio (FAR), a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has said. But the loss shoots up to over Rs 2,000 crore if it is calculated on the rate recommended by the finance department, the audit report said. The TCP department granted 10.7 lakh sqm additional FAR to 321 commercial establishments on their request without levying any fees, while the finance department had directed the TCP to charge Rs 1,000 per sqm on…

Latest StoriesRecent Stories

Margao residents oppose draft master plan, seek proper study

MARGAO: Margao residents on Thursday opposed the draft master plan 2041 for Margao and refused to submit their feedback and suggestions in writing. Instead, they demanded a fresh, more detailed, specific and scientific plan for the town, along with a ward-wise study. The presentation in the town hall of the Margao municipal building was attended by a fraction of citizens who were able to fit inside and who could show up following the 48-hour public notice. They complained about the consultants preparing the draft plan without taking them into confidence first, and without seeing the actual situation on the ground.…

Latest StoriesRecent Stories

Goa frames guidelines for ready-mix concrete plants

Representative Image PANAJI: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has approved, for the first time, environmental guidelines for ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants operating in the state. The major environmental issue posed by these plants is fugitive dust emission during the loading or unloading of materials, and storing, transferring, and mixing them. The guidelines state that commercial RMC plants must be 100m away from settlements, educational institutions, places of worship, archaeological monuments, national parks, reserves, and heritage sites. They state that no such plant will be permitted within the buffer zone of wildlife sanctuaries. Ready-mix concrete is manufactured in a…

Latest StoriesRecent Stories

Government to digitise land records of Goa’s urban areas

PANAJI: State govt has decided to digitise land records of Goa’s urban bodies to ensure accurate and reliable documentation of ownership. Towards this end, a survey under the National Geospatial Knowledge-Based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA) programme will be conducted. The initiative is expected to empower citizens, improve ease of living, enhance urban planning, and reduce land-related disputes. State govt, under the NAKSHA project, has invited qualified bidders for the appointment of a consulting agency to establish a state project management unit (SPMU) that will be responsible for the effective and efficient implementation, monitoring, and management of the NAKSHA…

Latest StoriesRecent Stories

To regularise illegal houses, Goa government plans bill to bypass comunidade

PANAJI: State govt is likely to introduce two different bills in the monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly, scheduled to be held from July 22, to regularise illegal structures on comunidade land and govt land. The govt, through the bill, will empower the administrator of the comunidade to decide on the application — bypassing the comunidade — to regularise the illegal structures on the respective comunidade, not exceeding an area of 300sqm.Initially, govt wanted to issue an ordinance, but as the assembly was being summoned, state govt decided to introduce bills in the monsoon session. In 2012, BJP govt…

Industry

Goa gets sustainable heritage policy, private homes to benefit

PANAJI: Govt on Wednesday approved the Goa State Heritage Policy, which is a comprehensive framework aimed at conserving, protecting, and promoting Goa’s unique cultural, historical, and natural heritage. The policy envisages including heritage conservation in academic curricula and promoting heritage tourism through curated experiences. The policy also includes incentives for private heritage properties. Global best practices and localised strategies have been used to create the policy. It ensures heritage preservation while enabling sustainable development and fostering community engagement. Heritage policies play a crucial role in preserving cultural and historical assets at the national level. Countries worldwide have implemented diverse legal…

Residential

Goa to submit eco-sensitive plan to Centre, seeks fresh survey under PMAY

PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said that Goa aims to be the first state to prepare and submit an eco-sensitive plan to the Centre. “Goa will be the first state to submit an eco-sensitive zone plan to the Centre. We are working on sustainable development; there is no haphazard management,” said Sawant at the regional rural workshop for the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Gramin). Sawant said that Goa govt is formulating schemes so that even people from the OBC and economically weaker sections can get proper houses in Goa. “Under the PMAY, we have just 250 beneficiaries. Of…

Infrastructure

Goa’s town planning department approves conversion of one lakh sq meter green land

The airstrip and hangar at Michael Boren’s Hell Roaring Ranch in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in Idaho, May 30, 2025. Boren, nominated by President Trump to lead the Forest Service, is accused of threatening trail workers with a helicopter, building an airstrip without a permit and putting a cabin on federal property. (Aaron Agosto/The New York Times) PANAJI: The Town and Country Planning (TCP) department has approved the conversion of just over 1 lakh sqm of land that was earlier classified as orchard and natural cover. The TCP board cleared the five applications for land conversion under Section 39A…

Latest StoriesRecent Stories

State readying sand erosion management plan: Goa CM

PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said state govt has started a study to prepare a comprehensive sand erosion management plan to save Goa’s coastline. He said if beaches are not saved, tourists will no longer visit Goa. Sawant urged the people to strictly implement the single-use plastic ban in the state from World Environment Day (June 5). He said Goa is the number one state for working towards preserving biodiversity. He said state govt continues with sustainable development while maintaining 66% green cover and protecting eco-sensitive areas. He went on to urge the business community to work towards…

Residential

Goa government simplifies process for bifurcation of house numbers

PANAJI: State govt on Wednesday directed the panchayats to issue bifurcation of house numbers of existing houses without partitioning the plot. This will allow separate families living in the same house to avail themselves of basic amenities like separate water and electricity connections in their names. The issuance of a house number to an applicant is to give a separate identity to the said portion of the house and is merely fiscal in nature for taxation purposes. It does not confer upon the applicant any title to the property or portion of the house. The application shall be disposed of…