NT Reporter
Panaji
Former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Justice (Retd) Ferdino Rebello, has drafted a proposed legislation titled the Goa Protection of Agriculture Lands Act, 2026, urging political parties to introduce it in the upcoming Budget session of the Assembly under the banner of the ‘Enough is Enough’ movement.
Copies of the draft Bill have been submitted to leaders of six political parties and three Independent MLAs. The exercise began on Saturday with letters handed over to BJP president Damodar Naik, Congress president Amit Patkar and AAP chief Valmiki Naik.
The proposed legislation seeks to halt further construction permissions beyond the 526.31 sq km Settlement Zone notified in the Regional Plan 2021. It also proposes nullifying permissions granted for cutting hills and slopes allegedly contrary to a 2010 explanatory memorandum issued by the Chief Town Planner, based on contour plans prepared by the Surveyor General
of India.
The draft terms the 2023 guidelines of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Board as illegal, stating the Board lacked authority to permit architects to submit independent gradient calculations. It proposes restoring earlier provisions under Section 17(A), allowing hill cutting up to 25 per cent gradient only in public interest, with mandatory recorded reasons by the Chief Town Planner.
The Bill further calls for review of permissions granted under Sections 17(2) and 39(A) of the TCP Act, citing alleged violations of the Goa Land Use (Regulation) Act, 1991, the Code of Comunidades and provisions related to tenanted agricultural land.
It seeks repeal of Section 39(A) of the TCP Act, amendments to the Goa Restriction on Transfer of Agricultural Land Act, 2023, and repeal of Section 32(1) of the Land Revenue Code introduced in 2024. A new Section 22(A) is proposed to restrict transfer of agricultural land to non-agriculturists and for non-agricultural purposes.
Justice Rebello said the Bill aims to ensure transparency and protect agricultural land while permitting development within notified settlement zones.
