Tag: Panaji

Latest StoriesResidential

Goa: 6 Months Jail, ₹10K Fine for Missing Tenant Records

Representative AI image PANAJI: The Goa government has approved the Goa (Verification of Tenants) Rules, 2026, initiating tenant verification within the state. Under these regulations, property owners are required to verify their tenants’ identities by collecting and examining relevant documents. Failure to comply may lead to imprisonment for up to six months and a fine of up to Rs 10,000. Similarly, the Goa police are tasked with maintaining records of inspections conducted during tenant verifications. The Goa (Verification of Tenants) Act, 2024, which came into effect in December 2024, aims to regulate the occupancy of individuals in residential properties not…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

SC Issues Notice to Goa Gov, Developer Over Siolim Villas

PANAJI: The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Goa government and a project developer regarding a special leave petition (SLP) that contests a Bombay High Court ruling, which dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) against the construction of eight luxury villas with private swimming pools in Oxel, Siolim. The notices must be returned by April 13. Petitioner Suraj Chodankar raised concerns that the project lies within 34.5 meters of the Oxel spring—a 363-year-old perennial water source vital for residents. The High Court based its decision on a hydrogeological report from the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), which indicated that…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

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…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Goa Plans STP Mandate for All Complexes with 24 Flats

PANAJI: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has reached out to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department advocating for the implementation of its directive mandating that all residential complexes with 24 or more flats install sewage treatment plants (STPs). In correspondence with the chief town planner, GSPCB emphasized that builders are responsible for maintaining the STP for a duration of three years or until the complex is transferred to the housing society. As per the Goa Land Development and Buildings Regulations, 2010, STPs are currently only required for complexes with 50 or more flats. If units are linked…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Goa Sand Mining Ban Extended by NGT Until April 23

PANAJI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has extended its interim relief on the ban of sand mining in Goa until the next hearing scheduled for April 23. This ban was originally imposed until January 28 after the Goa river sand protection network contested the twelve environmental clearances granted by state authorities for sand mining activities. During the January 28 hearing, the NGT ordered a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) due to delays in submitting their response. The GCZMA subsequently sought a modification or recall of this order. In its intervention application, the GCZMA…

IndustryLatest Stories

Goa Achieves 25% Completion of Land Records Update

Representative AI image PANAJI: Despite initial resistance from some communities, the state government has successfully completed approximately 25% of the work needed to update land records and issue urban property cards (UrPro) to landowners. Concerns arose that the survey could affect certain village areas slated for municipal inclusion and might lead to the confiscation of properties owned by individuals residing abroad or those with no legal heirs. A senior official indicated that the government aims to complete the survey by the end of February, but if it remains unfinished, they will seek additional time from the authorities. The Goa (National…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

NGT Penalizes Goa CZMA in Sand Mining Violations

Representative AI image PANAJI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a Rs 50,000 penalty on the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) for repeatedly requesting extensions to file replies in ongoing sand mining cases. The tribunal highlighted that GCZMA had been allowed four weeks to submit its response but failed to do so, even after a reminder in August of last year. “We are granting one week’s time for them to file their affidavit, contingent on the payment of Rs 50,000 to the National Green Tribunal Bar Association, Western Zone Bench, considering that 12 matters had to be postponed…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

HC Appoints Officers to Assess Illegal Structures in Goa

PANAJI: The High Court has appointed two nodal officers—the Deputy Director of Municipal Administration and the Extension Officer of the Directorate of Panchayats—to review reports from municipalities and panchayats concerning illegal structures throughout Goa. The appointed officers are tasked with analyzing these reports to ensure compliance with the court’s orders regarding illegal constructions. “The volume of compliance reports from panchayats and municipalities was substantial, prompting the court to seek recommendations for government officers capable of analyzing them. We proposed the Deputy Director of Municipal Administration to assess reports from the CCP and municipalities, and the Extension Officer from the Directorate…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Rainwater Harvesting Required for Large Buildings in Goa

PANAJI: The Goa government has mandated rooftop rainwater harvesting for large residential, commercial, and government buildings, announced Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar in the legislative assembly on Wednesday. Responding to a question posed by BJP’s Krishna Salkar during the ongoing winter session, Shirodkar stated that his department has been working on post-monsoon water harvesting in rivers, nullahs, and streams by constructing dams and bunds. The department is also advocating for rooftop rainwater harvesting in office complexes, schools, and other institutions, in addition to building rainwater harvesting pits to support groundwater recharge. The minister revealed that the state government officially announced…

IndustryLatest Stories

Goa: Town Planning Halts Carambolim Housing Project After Protests

PANAJI: In response to local protests, the town and country planning department issued a show cause notice and stop work order to the Carambolim panchayat on Tuesday. This halts construction of a large housing project that includes residential flats, commercial shops, a swimming pool, and a boundary wall until further notice, as reported by Lisa Monteiro. The department’s notice indicated that during a joint inspection on Monday, villagers raised concerns about the proximity of the proposed building to the existing crematorium, stating it did not comply with regulations. Villagers also highlighted that the planned access roads of 15m and 10m…