Goa’s Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department has approved 52 applications for zoning changes, involving land parcels totalling 140,000 square meters. Among the applicants are prominent builders, including Magnitude Homes, Sattva Builders, Prestige Acres, Mayberry Estates, and Estate Eight O One LLP. The approved zone changes cover several key areas, such as 68,399 square meters at Sarvona-Bicholim, 20,000 square meters at Arambol-Pernem, and 9,215 square meters at Corgao-Pernem. Additionally, one application to remove a 10-meter-wide road from a settlement zone in Mapusa received approval. These parcels, currently designated as natural cover, irrigated agricultural land, orchard, and undevelopable slopes under the Regional Plan 2021, have received provisional clearance for conversion. According to the data, most applicants requesting zoning changes under Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act are small landowners with plots ranging from 105 to 512 square meters. The TCP Department has opened a 30-day window for public objections and suggestions regarding the rezoning of these plots. Maps and related documents are available at the Regional Plan cell for inspection. Chief Town Planner Rajesh Naik stated that the proposals were reviewed by the TCP Department and subsequently approved by the Goa Town and Country Planning Board in its 205th meeting on August 19. Moving forward, the TCP Department aims to use Section 39A to amend the Regional Plan for Goa 2021 and Outline Development Plans for Mapusa and Parra-Arpora-Nagoa, enabling reclassification of the plots for settlement or transport and warehousing. Of the 52 applications, 35 received initial approval in June and July. The department has now released a full list of applicants, including details on the original zoning and the size of each land parcel. (ET)