Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Jul 16: Citizens' movement Enough is Enough Goa will hold a protest march and rally at the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department in Patto on Friday, demanding the repeal of Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act and the cancellation of all land conversions approved under the provision.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, spokesperson Devidas Amonkar said the organisation would submit a memorandum to the Chief Town Planner (CTP), alleging that Section 39A was being repeatedly misused to permit land conversions beyond the principles of sustainable development.

Amonkar claimed that the provision had become a "double-edged sword", facilitating large-scale land conversions that threaten Goa's environment and the interests of future generations.
He said the organisation, led by former High Court judge Justice Ferdino Rebello, had earlier submitted memorandums to the Goa government, the Chief Minister, the Prime Minister, the President of India, and all political parties, including the ruling BJP, seeking the repeal of Section 39A and the reversal of all conversions approved under it.

According to Amonkar, despite repeated representations, the government has continued issuing fresh Section 39A notifications instead of addressing public concerns.

Participants will assemble outside the TCP office at 9.55 am, where Justice Rebello will outline the purpose of the agitation before a delegation led by noted environmentalist Claude Alvares submits the memorandum to the Chief Town Planner. Social activists and representatives from various talukas are also expected to address the gathering.

Appealing for broad participation, Amonkar invited members of all political parties, including the BJP, to join the peaceful protest.

He said the movement supports sustainable development but believes unchecked land conversions threaten Goa's ecological balance and called on the government to introduce legislation repealing Section 39A.

Spokesperson Govind Shirodkar said the campaign had gained significant public support, with awareness meetings conducted across all 12 talukas over the past six months.

He alleged that Section 39A, along with the earlier Section 17(2), posed a serious threat to Goa's agriculture, environment and cultural identity. He further claimed that No Development Zones were regularly being converted into settlement zones through notifications issued under Section 39A.

Shirodkar urged the TCP Department to immediately halt further land conversions and appealed to people across Goa to participate in the protest, assuring that the programme would remain peaceful and conclude within about 90 minutes.

He also said Enough is Enough Goa is currently focusing on two major public campaigns—opposing land conversions under Section 39A and campaigning against casinos.

Shirodkar welcomed government officials who had spoken out against alleged irregularities within the TCP Department and encouraged others facing political pressure to come forward in the larger public interest. He added that several Opposition parties had extended their support to the protest.