Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a major land-use decision, the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Board, chaired by Minister Vishwajit Rane, has notified more than 1.01 crore square metres of land in Salcete taluka as No Development Zone (NDZ), reinforcing efforts to protect ecologically sensitive areas from future development.
The notified areas include 34.36 lakh square metres at São José de Areal, 6.17 lakh square metres at Dicarparle, 36.92 lakh square metres at Curtorim, 20,450 square metres at Benaulim and 24.22 lakh square metres at Mulem.
The notification restricts development activities in these identified areas, with the move aimed at preserving environmentally sensitive land and maintaining ecological balance.
Meanwhile, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said the Goa Forest Department will submit its final report on private forests to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) before August 15, marking the culmination of a process that has remained pending for nearly two decades.
According to the minister, more than 15 crore square metres of land are expected to be identified as private forest in the final report. Once notified, these areas will receive legal protection under the applicable forest conservation framework, helping safeguard Goa’s forest cover from unregulated development.
