The Goa government has proposed notifying 103.6 lakh square metres of eco-sensitive land as No-Development Zones (NDZs) under the Regional Plan for Goa 2021, marking one of the state’s largest land conservation initiatives in 2026. The proposal has been published by the Town and Country Planning Department, inviting public suggestions and objections within a 30-day consultation period.
The majority of the proposed land is located in Salcete taluka in South Goa. Chinchinim accounts for the largest area, with approximately 47.7 lakh square metres identified for protection. The notified land includes paddy fields, irrigated agricultural land, rivers, canals, ponds, mangroves, saltpans, orchards, fish farms, and other cultivable areas. Additional land parcels have been proposed in Ambelim (15.7 lakh sq. m.), Dramapur (16.6 lakh sq. m.), Sirlim (12 lakh sq. m.), and Cavelossim (3 lakh sq. m.). In North Goa, around 8.5 lakh square metres in St. Lawrence, Goa Velha, has also been proposed for NDZ status.
The notification, signed by Chief Town Planner Vertika Dagur, states that the final designation will be subject to recommendations from the Forest Department, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), and the Water Resources Department.
This proposal follows a series of conservation measures introduced by the state government during 2026. In June, Goa notified 1.13 crore square metres of eco-sensitive land as No-Development Zones across several villages, while in May, more than 82 lakh square metres of hill slopes and mounds were brought under similar protection.
The conservation drive is being led by Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane, who has also directed the department not to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for property transactions involving private forests, eco-sensitive areas, saltpans, khazan lands, and paddy fields. The government has also approached the Supreme Court seeking protection for 554 survey numbers identified as environmentally sensitive.
