Goa declares 1.02 crore sq m of eco-sensitive land as No Development Zone

The Goa government has declared 1.02 crore square metres of ecologically sensitive land as a No Development Zone to protect paddy fields, slopes and low-lying areas. The move aims to curb unregulated construction and preserve the state's ecological balance

Panaji: The Goa government has notified 1.02 crore sqm of ecologically sensitive land in the coastal state as a No Development Zone, a move aimed at protecting paddy fields, slopes and other environmentally fragile areas from future development, officials said on Sunday.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane, they said.

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According to the Town and Country Planning Board’s notification issued on July 16, a total of 1,02,67,954 square metres of land has been brought under the No Development Zone (NDZ) category.

The notified areas include 40,89,800 sqm in Cuncolim, 16,73,530 sqm in Deussa, 15,71,572 sqm in Cavorim, 9,50,188 sqm in Chandor, 9,31,483 sqm in Davorlim, and 8,19,371 sqm in Veroda, all in Salcette taluka in South Goa district.

The notification also covers 1,46,451 sqm in Pilliem in Dharbandora taluka, besides 21,922 sqm in Deao, 10,512 sqm in Xeldem and 1,125 sqm in Sirvoi in Quepem taluka, all in Kushavati district.

Officials said the notified land comprises ecologically sensitive areas such as paddy fields, natural slopes and low-lying regions that play a crucial role in groundwater recharge, flood mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

The latest notification is part of the state government’s ongoing exercise to restore environmentally sensitive areas to the NDZ category following a review of land-use classifications under the Regional Plan. The move is intended to prevent unregulated construction and preserve Goa’s fragile ecological balance, the officials added.