Panaji: The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department has issued a notification declaring almost 1.13 crore square metres of eco-sensitive land across the state as a No Development Zone (NDZ).
The notification was issued on June 18 following a decision taken by the State Town and Country Planning Board chaired by Minister Vishwajit Rane.
According to the notification published in the Official Gazette on June 18, 2026, several environmentally significant areas, including paddy fields, khazan lands, mangroves, water bodies, rivers and nallas, fish farms, orchards, salt pans, sand dunes, and natural cover areas, have been recommended as non-developable zones.
Officials said that the proposals were approved during the 235th meeting of the Goa Town and Country Planning Board held on June 10, 2026, and have now been placed in the public domain for suggestions and objections.
Among the largest areas proposed for NDZ status is Carmona in Salcete (South Goa), where approximately 30.43 lakh square metres of land comprising paddy fields, mangroves, fish farms, water bodies, rivers, and orchards has been recommended for protection.
Other major areas proposed as No Development Zones include Varca (Salcete), where 24.13 lakh square metres of eco-sensitive land has been proposed as NDZ.
Around 18.06 lakh square metres of land in St Andre, North Goa, near Panaji, has been declared a No Development Zone.
In Betalbatim village of Salcete in South Goa, a total of 13.16 lakh square metres of land, and in Colva (Salcete), a total of 6.92 lakh square metres of land, have been notified as No Development Zones.
Around 6.33 lakh square metres of land in Sernabatim, Salcete, has been declared a No Development Zone.
The notification also covers environmentally sensitive lands in several villages, including Maem, Calvim, Aldona, Corjuem, Sircaim, Mapusa, Morambi-O-Pequeno, Chorao, Ella, Amona, Bandora, Panchawadi, Guirim, and Tivim in North Goa, and Chinchinim, Telaulim, Deussua, Poinguinim, Cortalim, Sancoale, Dabolim, and Cavelossim in South Goa.
Officials stated that the move aims to safeguard Goa’s ecological assets and prevent indiscriminate development in environmentally fragile areas. The proposed NDZ areas include lands currently classified as orchards, water bodies, khazan lands, paddy fields, mangroves, salt pans, fish farms, and natural cover zones.
The TCP Department has invited suggestions and objections from the public within 30 days of the publication of the notification. The proposals are available for public inspection at the Regional Plan Cell of the Town and Country Planning Department in Patto, Panaji.
Once the consultation period concludes, the proposals, along with public feedback, will be placed before the TCP Board for its final recommendation and decision, officials added.
