Tag: Panaji

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Goa Town Planning Proposes 14 Zone Changes Under 39A

Representative AI image PANAJI: Amid increasing calls to abolish Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act, the TCP department has proposed converting 14 tracts of land across four talukas from agricultural fields and green cover to settlement zones. The proposed conversions encompass approximately 11,908 square meters across villages in Bardez, Ponda, Quepem, and Salcete. These land use change proposals have been approved by the TCP board and are now open for public objections for a period of 30 days. Notable proposals include two adjacent applications in Arpora, Bardez. Beyond Villas LLP has applied for the conversion of 5,642…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Goa: Developer Ordered to Fix Flat Seepage by Consumer Forum

PANAJI: The North Goa District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission has directed a property developer to resolve water seepage issues in a Bardez resident’s flat within three months, along with compensating Rs 25,000 for damages caused by the leaks. Vikram Vaigankar purchased a flat on the first floor of ‘The Misty Greens’ in Socorro for Rs 38 lakh in 2018, developed by Universal Developers. In June 2020, he reported that a section of the false ceiling in the hall and bedroom collapsed. Although the builder repaired the slab, faulty waterproofing resulted in further leakages. By June 2021, water began leaking directly…

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…