Goa: 50% Land Conversions Under Planning Act in 5 Villages
Representative AI image PANAJI: Over 530 hectares (53 lakh sqm) of land have been designated for settlement under Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act, as per the compiled data on all proposals approved across the state. This significant reclassification, primarily from agricultural and natural lands to settlement areas, demonstrates that a measure intended for minor adjustments has evolved into a methodical erosion of Goa’s ecological integrity. Notably, over 51% of the land converted under Section 39A is concentrated in just five villages, highlighting a pronounced geographic development pressure. The data clearly indicates that most of this…