Goa's Section 39A Protests Highlight Land Use and Environmental Governance Challenges

The Hindu - News · 21 Mar 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Polity Mains · GS2 Governance High relevance

Goa residents protest against Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, 2024, which allows conversion of ecologically sensitive zones to settlement areas, threatening local ecology and livelihoods.

Key points

Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, 2024 permits conversion of ecologically sensitive zones (forests, hills, farmland) to settlement zones, sparking widespread protests in Goa.

Protesters, including former sarpanch Vasu Kankolikar and MLA Viresh Borkar, argue this will lead to unchecked real estate development, ecological damage, and disruption of traditional livelihoods like fishing.

The Regional Plan 2011 classified 83% of Goa's land as eco-sensitive with 17-18 categories, but Section 39A recognizes only seven, allowing easier conversion of protected zones like orchards (ESZ-2).

[GS2-Governance] This connects to GS2's governance topics as it highlights the conflict between centralized planning authority (TCP Department) and local self-governance (panchayats) in land use decisions.

Architect Tahir Noronha found applications to convert 68 lakh sqm of land across Goa, with 13.6% already approved, including 5,000 sqm in Palem village alone.

[GS3-Environment] The issue relates to GS3's environmental conservation as conversion of eco-sensitive zones could impact Goa's biodiversity, water resources, and climate resilience.

Protesters demand a Person of Goan Origin (POGO) Bill to prioritize locals in land ownership and amendments to the Goa Panchayat Raj Act to regulate mega projects.

The Bombay High Court had previously read down Section 17(2) of the TCP Act (2023) that allowed private land conversion without public consultation, setting a judicial precedent.

Way Forward: Goa should establish a participatory land use planning mechanism involving gram sabhas, conduct carrying capacity studies for sustainable development, and create a transparent digital portal for tracking land conversion applications.

Key terms

Town and Country Planning Act

A state-level legislation governing urban and rural land use planning in India. In Goa, the TCP Act establishes zoning regulations and development controls, with recent amendments like Section 39A becoming contentious for bypassing environmental safeguards.

Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ)

Areas designated under environmental laws to protect fragile ecosystems. The Goa Regional Plan 2011 classified ESZ-1 (no development) and ESZ-2 (restricted development), but Section 39A dilutes these protections, impacting Western Ghats biodiversity.

Regional Plan

A statutory spatial development blueprint under the TCP Act. Goa's 2011 plan was based on extensive public consultation and ecological surveys, but recent amendments allow ad-hoc modifications without similar participatory processes.

Gram Sabha

The village assembly under Panchayati Raj institutions, constitutionally empowered under Article 243A for local self-governance. Protesters emphasize its role in land use decisions as a check against top-down planning under Section 39A.