Goa’s Eco-Sensitive Lands Under Threat from Legal Real Estate Developments

In a concerning trend, real estate developers in Goa are increasingly acquiring ecologically sensitive land, raising questions about environmental conservation and regulatory enforcement. One of the recent notable transactions involves KGL Realtors Private Limited, a developer based in Telangana, which purchased a substantial 20,000 square meters of land on a hilly terrain just before the Mapusa river converges with the Mandovi river near Panjim.

Upon its purchase, the land was classified in the sale deed as “barren and waste land.” However, this classification stands in stark contrast to the realities outlined in Goa’s Regional Plan 2021, which designates 82% of the state as eco-sensitive zones. These areas are specifically protected to mitigate the impact of rampant construction and to preserve the natural landscape, especially in regions characterized by wetlands, creeks, and paddy fields.

The Regional Plan categorizes much of KGL’s newly acquired land as Natural Cover, with a portion of it (4,000 square meters) marked as having “No Development Slopes.” This designation clearly indicates that development is restricted in these areas due to their ecological significance. In Goa, land management falls under state jurisdiction, and the tourism-centric state has established stringent regulations to prevent overdevelopment that threatens its environment and biodiversity.

Despite these protective measures, the loopholes in existing town planning acts have allowed developers to legally navigate around these restrictions. Goa’s regional plan, founded on the Town and Country Planning Act, attempts to regulate land use throughout the state. However, many argue that enforcement remains challenging, particularly as only seven states in India have comprehensive planning acts that address rural and urban territories alike.

In recent years, the government has been criticized for its lax approach toward the regulation of land use, particularly in sensitive ecological zones. The acquisition of land for development in areas deemed as natural cover poses a serious threat to the delicate balance of Goa’s ecosystem, raising concerns among environmentalists and local communities who fear irreparable damage to their landscape and livelihoods.

Source: scroll.in