from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Jan 23:  Goa government on Tuesday stated that 6,802 hectare additional land was classified as settlement zone under controversial regional plan 2011 which comprised 3,300 hectare orchard land which was classified as settlement, industrial and recreational zones.

In a reply on the floor of the house, chief minister Pratapsingh Rane, has stated that 1,847 hectare of cultivated land, 1,153-hectare natural cover, 960-hectare social forest, 22-hectare mangroves and 75-hectare export promotion zone (EPZ) was also classified as settlement zones.

The maximum area was converted in Tiswadi taluka comprising of capital city of Panaji. The taluka has 959-hectare land classified as settlement zone followed by rural Bicholim taluka, which has 974 hectare.

The most rural taluka of Sanguem has minimum five-hectare land classified as settlement area.

“The regional plan is a broad policy document and land use proposals are broad-based and the plan will be implemented in a phased manner after ascertaining the infrastructural requirements,” said chief minister in a written reply.

Rane said that regional plan 2011 was notified on July 6, 2004 and subsequently on November 18, 2005. “In the notification dated July 6, 2004, two months time was granted for raising objections or suggestions. By notificated dated November 18, 2005 the time limit was extended till December 15, 2005,” reads the reply.

Clarifying that enough opportunity was given to the public, chief minister said that an opportunity for personal hearing was offered to all the persons who had filed objections.