Now, TCP approves conversion of 1L sqm land under Sec 39A
Panaji:
The Town and Country Planning (TCP) department has approved the conversion of just over 1 lakh sqm of land that was earlier classified as orchard and natural cover.
The TCP board cleared the five applications for land conversion under Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act after 'due consideration of the suggestions' received during a 30-day window, said Vertika Dagur, TCP's chief town planner (planning).
Dagur said the alteration and conversion of the five plots in the Regional Plan, 2021, will be subject to the outcome of the writ petitions pending before the high court.
The PIL, filed by Goa Foundation, challenges the provisions of Section 39A, alleging that they allow arbitrary and ad hoc conversions of privately owned plots within the Regional Plan and notified outline development plans, which could lead to unplanned and undesirable development in Goa.
Of the 1 lakh sqm that was put up for conversion, nearly 69,129sqm falls in Pernem's Parcem village. The entire tranche of land was converted for residential housing.
The TCP department said that it examined the five proposals along with scrutiny reports before placing the applications before the TCP board for its decision.
Dagur said govt has also approved the change of zone for the five plots.
'Therefore, in view of the recommendation of the Goa TCP board being approved by govt and in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 39A of the Goa TCP Act, the Regional Plan and the outline development plan is hereby altered and modified as specified,' Dagur said.
Section 39 of the TCP Act garnered attention after the HC read down Section 17(2) of the Goa Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, which the department was using to facilitate land conversion in the Regional Plan and outline development plans.
The high court had observed that 'plot-by-plot conversion' under Section 17(2) 'virtually has the effect of mutilating the Regional Plan' and thus the scope of the law had to be narrowed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Goa cracks down on litterbugs: New garbage bill aims to keep tourist areas clean; fines up to Rs 3 lakh
PORVORIM : The House passed the crucial Goa NonBiodegradable Garbage (Control) (Amendment) Bill, which has provision to penalise people caught littering not just public spaces, but private ones too. The bill facilitates a fine of Rs 300 for the first offence, with subsequent offences attracting fines of up to Rs 3 lakh. Opposition leader Yuri Alemao asked why imprisonment as a deterrent was not included in the amendment bill. It was passed after a brief discussion on provisions, and with amendments suggested by Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral. The House also passed the Goa Tax on Infrastructure (Amendment) Bill, introduced by TCP minister Vishwajit Rane, which aims to make payment of infrastructure tax by builders and developers easier. Opposition MLAs questioned govt's intent in allowing payments in two installments. To the point raised by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on whether similar benefits will be extended to Goans for constructing their houses, the CM said such a law is in the pipeline. Passing of the Goa Public Universities Bill, with a provision to facilitate setting up of multi-disciplinary universities was deferred till Friday following Opposition members' demands that the bill be sent to the select committee.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Teachers, Doctors, Even Retirees: Why China Won't Let Its Public Workers Travel Abroad
Last Updated: A sweeping crackdown is forcing Chinese public employees to surrender passports, seek layered approvals, and avoid foreign contact, even for personal trips A report by The New York Times revealed that China has significantly expanded restrictions on overseas travel for public sector employees. These rules now apply not only to senior government officials, but also to frontline teachers, hospital workers, civil servants, and even retirees. The new policies require many public employees to surrender their passports to their employers and obtain formal approval for any foreign trip, including personal travel. In several cities, foreign vacations have been banned entirely. Employees across sectors have described receiving internal communications warning them that failure to comply could lead to disciplinary action or even dismissal. In one documented case, a literature teacher at a public school in southern China found a clause in her employment contract stating that unauthorised foreign travel could result in termination. The controls are not limited to teachers. A nurse interviewed by NYT said she would need four levels of administrative approval to obtain permission to travel abroad. Retired government employees in some cities are being told they must wait as long as two years before they can reclaim their passports. Who Is Being Affected By The Travel Ban? Shanghai is one of the only exceptions where such applicants are still permitted to apply. But even there, candidates with a spouse or close relative living abroad may be deemed ineligible for law enforcement roles. In addition to passport controls, employees in some areas have been instructed to avoid speaking with foreign media while overseas, and to report any contact with foreign organisations, particularly those labelled 'anti-China forces", to Chinese embassies. In some institutions, workers have been ordered to disclose all past international travel, in some cases dating back to 2018. Why Is China Cracking Down On Public Workers' Travel? The travel restrictions are part of a wider shift under Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has steadily expanded the Chinese Communist Party's control over not just policy, but the everyday behaviour and thinking of public employees. Beijing has offered three main justifications for the new rules: national security, political discipline, and cost control. The national security angle has gained prominence in recent years as China's relations with the West have deteriorated. The government has warned of increasing risks from 'hostile foreign forces" — a term often used to describe Western governments, NGOs, and media outlets that Beijing sees as attempting to interfere in Chinese domestic affairs. In 2023, China's Ministry of State Security publicly accused a Chinese national in Italy of spying for the CIA. Around the same time, Beijing passed amendments to its counter-espionage law, broadening the definition of spying and effectively giving authorities more power to monitor foreign interactions. But the crackdown is also about ideological control. Xi has repeatedly stressed the importance of political loyalty within the civil service. In July 2025, the People's Daily, the Communist Party's flagship newspaper, declared that 'people-to-people diplomacy exists because of the Party and must be led by the Party." The statement underlined a growing fear in Beijing that unsupervised contact with the outside world, even for a teacher or a nurse, might lead to ideological drift or unapproved narratives about China. The third reason is fiscal discipline. In May 2023, the Chinese government issued orders to cut 'wasteful and unnecessary" spending. According to a report by Firstpost, Official notices singled out travel, alcohol, receptions, flowers, and office luxuries. Senior Party leaders, including Politburo Standing Committee member Cai Qi, urged cadres to stop 'extravagant eating and drinking." The Party's long-running anti-corruption campaign has now been expanded to include personal travel by public employees, even if those trips are self-funded. By limiting exposure to foreign countries and cultures, the leadership hopes to insulate its officials from ideas or influences that might challenge the Party line, even indirectly. For Xi, it's about ensuring that every government employee, no matter how junior, stays tightly aligned with the official narrative, at home and abroad. How Are These Rules Being Enforced Across China? The implementation of the policy has varied by province and department, but the trend is clear: mobility is being tightly monitored and increasingly restricted. Public employees are being asked to submit written requests for travel abroad, provide detailed justifications, and seek clearance from multiple levels of management. In many cities, passport surrender is mandatory and indefinite. Some institutions have introduced formal questionnaires requiring workers to disclose whether any relatives hold foreign citizenship or permanent residency abroad. In certain local governments, employees are required to undergo ideological education or security briefings before travel is approved. Applicants to government jobs are facing stricter vetting as well. Individuals with any history of foreign education or professional experience overseas are being screened out during recruitment, especially in provinces outside Shanghai. In some regions, even short-term academic exposure to foreign countries has become a disqualifier. Has China Done This Before? This is not the first time China has placed foreign travel under scrutiny. In October 2023, Reuters reported that civil servants and state-linked enterprise employees were facing tighter constraints on personal overseas travel. The restrictions included bans on foreign trips, shorter allowable durations abroad, and more complex approval processes. Some workers were allowed to travel only once per year, and only for up to 12 days. Others had to attend pre-departure confidentiality training. Public announcements by government entities such as the national pension fund confirmed the tightening of travel rules. In some cities, employees were also asked to submit details of foreign relatives and previous international trips. The Reuters report described a growing push by Chinese authorities to monitor the foreign ties of its workforce and track any exposure to overseas influence, particularly as China's relations with Western countries grew more strained. top videos View all How Are Workers Responding To The Clampdown? There has been no visible public pushback, but discontent is simmering. Workers interviewed by NYT described feeling trapped and confused, especially given the contradiction between China's public push for foreign investment and tourism, and the internal message that its own citizens, particularly public employees, must stay put. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Chinese government public sector Xi Jinping view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 05, 2025, 11:34 IST News explainers Teachers, Doctors, Even Retirees: Why China Won't Let Its Public Workers Travel Abroad Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
Bill to penalise litterbugs passed
Porvorim: The House passed the crucial Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) (Amendment) Bill, which has provision to penalise people caught littering not just public spaces, but private ones too. The bill facilitates a fine of Rs 300 for the first offence, with subsequent offences attracting fines of up to Rs 3 lakh. Opposition leader Yuri Alemao asked why imprisonment as a deterrent was not included in the amendment bill. It was passed after a brief discussion on provisions, and with amendments suggested by Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral. The House also passed the Goa Tax on Infrastructure (Amendment) Bill, introduced by TCP minister Vishwajit Rane, which aims to make payment of infrastructure tax by builders and developers easier. Opposition MLAs questioned govt's intent in allowing payments in two installments. To the point raised by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on whether similar benefits will be extended to Goans for constructing their houses, the CM said such a law is in the pipeline. Passing of the Goa Public Universities Bill, with a provision to facilitate setting up of multi-disciplinary universities was deferred till Friday following Opposition members' demands that the bill be sent to the select committee.
