Panaji is buzzing with news! The Town and Country Planning (TCP) department of Goa launched another major drive to convert land use, recommending 13 fresh proposals on Thursday. These proposals cover a whopping 2.8 lakh square meters across North and South Goa, almost matching the total 2.9 lakh sqm of land cleared in the last six months, as TCP minister Vishwajit Rane revealed in July. This latest wave aims to transform orchards, green areas, and even agricultural land into spaces for settlements and constructions. One hot topic in this mix is Zuari Industries Ltd’s plan to flip 1.8 lakh sqm of natural orchard land in Sancoale into settlement zones. The TCP has opened a 30-day window for anyone to raise objections on these changes. Political voices rose quickly. Vijai Sardesai, MLA of Fatorda and president of Goa Forward Party (GFP), slammed the Zuari move, saying, “This land was gifted by Goa’s first CM Bhausaheb Bandodkar to create jobs for Goans, not to be exploited for real estate deals.” The GFP demands a rejection of these plans, warning the land conversions could harm Goa’s fragile environment. This land-use chatter isn’t new. Just last month, TCP approved turning 33,438 sqm of Sancoale land into settlement for Prestige Acres Pvt Ltd. This parcel was previously Zuari Agro Chemicals Ltd property, showing a trend of big industrial lands turning into developmental hotspots. The recent approvals come from the TCP board’s 222nd meeting on November 3, spreading into key areas like Bardez, Tiswadi, Mormugao, Ponda, and Salcete. Bardez leads the pack with six proposals for conversions in villages such as Assagao, Aldona, Pilerne, and Moira, places already roaring with demand for second homes and rental villas. Developers Solanki & Sons grabbed two commercial plots in Pilerne covering 5,586 sqm. Biggest land grabs are in Mormugao and Tiswadi districts. Here, Zuari Industries is tentatively cleared for two massive plots in Sancoale—one 89,530 sqm and the other 91,089 sqm—switching from industrial and orchard zones to settlements. A TCP official called this conversion "one of the single largest additions of settlement land approved in recent months." Tiswadi’s Ella features a 39,481 sqm proposal overlapping an archaeological park and orchard, plus it touches a national highway path. TCP wants forest department approval before giving the final nod. Meanwhile, in Ponda’s Khandola, Alcon Developers seek to turn 47,280 sqm of orchard land—some in mangrove and slope zones—into settlements, stirring more ecological worries. Even Dabolim wasn’t spared. A smaller area of 3,755 sqm of agricultural land got TCP’s thumbs up for residential use. These moves show Goa’s ongoing softening of strict land-use rules, even in sensitive ecological pockets. With Goa’s natural charm at stake and political voices heating up, the coming 30 days for objections will be full of drama. Will Goa save its green heart or give way to concrete dreams? Stay tuned!