Mapusa: The Anjuna gram sabha on Sunday unanimously resolved to reject all four current zone change proposals made under Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act within the Anjuna–Caisua panchayat jurisdiction. It was also decided that no future zone changes should be permitted in eco-sensitive areas such as wetlands, grazing land, forest land, agricultural land and CRZ areas.
Gram sabha members resolved to take a delegation comprising villagers, members of the panchayat body and the Siolim MLA to meet the TCP minister on the issue.
“Four proposals for zone change under Section 39A of the TCP Act have been put forward in the Anjuna–Caisua panchayat area. These are being pushed without inputs from the panchayat,” local Jeremy Ferreira alleged.
He said that related files are available only at the TCP office at Patto in Panaji and not at the panchayat. “Objections must be filed within 30 days of the gazette notification, but the notices appear in newspapers 10–12 days later, leaving little time for the public to respond. Besides, no details like minutes, maps, contours or plans are available on the TCP website,” he said.
He added that Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo has also filed an objection letter opposing the zone change and moved a proposal to reject all current as well as future zone changes being approved by the TCP department, which was accepted by all gram sabha members.
Anjuna sarpanch Surendra Govekar said, “The panchayat has also filed its objection to two proposals which were notified by the department for zone change. Besides, even a copy of the objection letter has also been sent to the Chief Minister.”
Another proposal related to engaging school and higher secondary students in a cleanliness drive in the panchayat jurisdiction was also discussed. Ravi Harmalkar opposed the move and said, “We will be throwing waste like chips, alcohol bottles, pampers and other waste and students are being engaged to clean it which is not proper.” He said parents should be taught about cleanliness before involving students and added that there are other ways to make students learn about cleanliness.
Harmalkar also questioned the panchayat about traffic congestion at Starco junction and asked it to streamline parking provisions with assistance from the Traffic Cell and the Deputy Collector’s office.
The gram sabha also discussed the 2026–27 annual budget, garbage collection, renting of flats, digitalisation of house tax, illegal construction, water pipeline issues, a Bal Bhavan centre in the village, upgradation of the Vagator rural dispensary, a children’s park and other matters.
