Team Goemkarponn
MANDREM: Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar has alleged that Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act is being misused for large-scale land conversions, contrary to the original intent presented in the Assembly.
Arolkar said that when the amendment was passed, legislators were informed that the provision was meant to help local landowners who were unable to convert their orchard lands. However, he claimed that the ground reality reflects a different picture.
“We were told that Section 39A was introduced to benefit locals who could not change the zoning of their orchard lands. But today, we are witnessing vast tracts of land being converted in the name of zone change,” Arolkar stated.
He further alleged that hills, agricultural lands and No Development Zones (NDZ) are being converted under the provision. Citing a specific instance in Pernem taluka, the Mandrem MLA claimed that approximately 2.36 lakh square metres of land had been converted without the consent of the local panchayat and residents.
Arolkar demanded greater transparency and accountability in the implementation of Section 39A, asserting that development should not come at the cost of environmental safeguards and community participation.
