Now, TCP approves conversion of 1L sqm land under Sec 39A
The airstrip and hangar at Michael Boren's Hell Roaring Ranch in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in Idaho, May 30, 2025. Boren, nominated by President Trump to lead the Forest Service, is accused of threatening trail workers with a helicopter, building an airstrip without a permit and putting a cabin on federal property. (Aaron Agosto/The New York Times)
Panaji:
The Town and Country Planning (TCP) department has approved the conversion of just over 1 lakh sqm of land that was earlier classified as orchard and natural cover.
The TCP board cleared the five applications for land conversion under Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act after 'due consideration of the suggestions' received during a 30-day window, said Vertika Dagur, TCP's chief town planner (planning).
Dagur said the alteration and conversion of the five plots in the Regional Plan, 2021, will be subject to the outcome of the writ petitions pending before the high court.
The PIL, filed by Goa Foundation, challenges the provisions of Section 39A, alleging that they allow arbitrary and ad hoc conversions of privately owned plots within the Regional Plan and notified outline development plans, which could lead to unplanned and undesirable development in Goa.
Of the 1 lakh sqm that was put up for conversion, nearly 69,129sqm falls in Pernem's Parcem village. The entire tranche of land was converted for residential housing.
The TCP department said that it examined the five proposals along with scrutiny reports before placing the applications before the TCP board for its decision.
Dagur said govt has also approved the change of zone for the five plots.
'Therefore, in view of the recommendation of the Goa TCP board being approved by govt and in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 39A of the Goa TCP Act, the Regional Plan and the outline development plan is hereby altered and modified as specified,' Dagur said.
Section 39 of the TCP Act garnered attention after the HC read down Section 17(2) of the Goa Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, which the department was using to facilitate land conversion in the Regional Plan and outline development plans.
The high court had observed that 'plot-by-plot conversion' under Section 17(2) 'virtually has the effect of mutilating the Regional Plan' and thus the scope of the law had to be narrowed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
B-2 bombers flew 37 hours non-stop, covered over 7000 miles: US outsmarted Iran's Russian air defense missiles to strike its nuclear sites
In a meticulously planned and unprecedented military operation, the United States on June 21 executed a large-scale airstrike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, targeting the highly fortified Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan facilities, bypassing Iran's dense air defense network, which includes older generation Russian-made surface-to-air missiles. The US strikes included the first-ever use of 30,000 pound (14,000 kilograms) GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator , also known as bunker busters, in combat. According to The New York Times and multiple defense sources, the US operation combined the stealth capabilities of six B-2A Spirit strategic bombers, each valued at roughly $2 billion, with the precision of submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles . The bombers flew non-stop for 37 hours with multiple aerial refueling to cover the over 7000 miles (approx 11,400 kilometers) from the Missouri airbase to the target areas, marking a new chapter in the U.S. effort to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions. The arsenal: Massive Ordnance Penetrators and Tomahawk missiles The centerpiece of the airstrike was the deployment of 12 GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker-buster bombs, dropped exclusively by the B-2A Spirit bombers on the Fordow nuclear enrichment facility. Each MOP weighs approximately 30,000 pounds (13,600 kilograms) and is engineered to penetrate up to 200 feet of earth or 60 feet of reinforced concrete before detonating, making it one of the most powerful conventional bombs in the U.S. arsenal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy the Dip: Top 5 Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo The MOP's warhead is encased in a high-performance steel alloy designed to maintain structural integrity upon impact, enabling it to destroy deeply buried and hardened targets that conventional munitions cannot reach. In addition to the MOPs, the Natanz and Isfahan sites were struck by a barrage of 30 submarine-launched BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles, known for their precision and reliability. Live Events The Tomahawks were complemented by two additional GBU-57A/B MOPs dropped on Natanz, underscoring the strategic importance of that site in Iran's nuclear program. The flight path: A 37-hour mission The six B-2A Spirits, operated by the U.S. Air Force 's 509th Bomb Wing, launched from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on a mission lasting approximately 37 hours. The bombers refueled multiple times mid-air to cover the vast distance to Iran and back, demonstrating the B-2's extraordinary range and endurance. The stealth design of the B-2, featuring radar-absorbing materials and a low radar cross-section comparable to a small bird, allowed the bombers to penetrate Iranian airspace undetected, evading sophisticated surface-to-air missile defenses protecting the Fordow site. Each B-2 bomber can carry up to two GBU-57 MOPs due to the bomb's massive size, and the aircraft's internal weapons bays are optimized for stealth and payload delivery. The B-2's bat-like aerodynamic shape and advanced automation systems reduce pilot workload during such complex missions, enabling precise targeting of hardened underground facilities. Why these targets? Fordow: Built 300 feet beneath a mountain and shielded by Russian-supplied air defenses, Fordow is considered the crown jewel of Iran's nuclear program. It houses approximately 1,000 centrifuges used for uranium enrichment and has long been a challenge for airstrike planners due to its depth and fortifications. The use of multiple MOPs aimed to obliterate this key site, which President Trump declared 'gone' after the strikes. Natanz: Iran's main uranium enrichment facility, Natanz, was targeted with a mix of Tomahawk missiles and two MOP bombs. The strikes focused on above-ground infrastructure and underground cascades of centrifuges, aiming to disrupt Iran's uranium production capabilities. Isfahan: This site, involved in uranium conversion and fuel production, was hit primarily by Tomahawk missiles, damaging critical buildings but reportedly without radiological leakage.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
After US targets Iran's nuclear sites, will Tehran retaliate or negotiate? Check what experts say
US President Donald Trump announced that the American military forces have attacked key Iranian nuclear sites, warning airstrikes on other targets 'with precision' if Iran does not make peace. The US airstrikes come after several speculations on whether Trump will extend direct support to Israel or not. He informed that the US has targeted three key nuclear sites in Iran, including Natanz, Esfahan and Fordow. Six bunker-buster bombs targeted Fordow, and 30 Tomahawk missiles were launched at other nuclear sites, Trump told Fox News. Following the US attack on Saturday, questions arose on whether Iran would respond to the airstrikes. The New York Times (NYT) reported, citing a US official, that the American strikes on Iran have ended, and no subsequent attacks are anticipated. "Although commanders were ready to respond to any Iranian retaliatory attacks.' Meanwhile, the Director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council, told the NYT that the US is expecting that 'a significant escalatory spiral that could get out of hand quickly'. Another possibility following the airstrikes is that Iran may get prepared to negotiate, the report said. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in an interview with NBC News on Friday, stated that if the US plans to attack Iran, then the Islamic Republic will have the right to retaliate. 'When there is a war, both sides attack each other. That's quite understandable. And self-defence is a legitimate right of every country,' Araghchi said. The state media informed asserted that there is 'no danger' to residents in Qom, a city situated to the south of Tehran, following the US attack, thereby confirming the airstrikes, AFP reported. 'A few hours ago, when Qom air defences were activated and hostile targets were identified, part of the Fordo nuclear site was attacked by enemies," the state news agency IRNA quoted a statement from Qom province.
The Print
3 hours ago
- The Print
US enters war with Iran, hitting nuclear facilities as Trump urges peace
'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow,' Trump said. Announcing the strikes on his social media platform, Truth Social, US President Donald Trump termed it a 'historic moment' for the US, Israel and the world. Trump also said it was 'time for peace'. New Delhi: The US hit three nuclear enrichment sites in Iran—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, entering Israel's war with Iran in the early hours of Sunday. He added, 'All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter'. In another post, Trump said, 'This is a HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!'. That post also carried a banner announcing that the recently released Trump Golden Bitcoins were available for Truth Social users free. The New York Times, quoting a US official speaking on condition of anonymity, said multiple 30,000-pound bunker bombs were dropped on the underground nuclear facility in Fordow and that initial damage assessments indicated that the facility had been 'taken off the table'. The official added that the strikes against the three nuclear sites were complete and no follow-up attacks were expected, although commanders were ready to respond to any Iranian retaliatory attacks. Fox News said the president had spoken to its reporter Sean Hannity privately, whom he told that the US completely 'obliterated' the Fordow nuclear facility with six bunker busters dropped from B-2 bombers. Further, Hannity said, the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites were 'wiped out' by 30 tomahawk missiles fired from American submarines placed 400 miles (643 km) away. This comes a little more than a week after Israel launched its operation in Iran, carrying out a series of strikes on nuclear facilities, key military personnel and nuclear scientists. Iran and Israel had been trading fire since then with dozens of civilians killed on both sides. The NYT reported that by the time US aircraft bombed the Natanz nuclear site, the International Atomic Energy Agency assessed that all the centrifuges in its hall, about 100 feet underground, had been knocked out by Israel's attack on the electrical system that fed the machines, which spin at supersonic speeds. In a televised statement soon after, Trump said, 'Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror. Tonight. I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.' He added that the US 'will go after the other targets with precision speed and skill' if Iran does not make peace. Calling Iran, the 'bully of the Middle East', Trump repeated that Tehran must now make peace. 'If they do not, future attacks would be far greater and easier. For 40 years, Iran has been saying death to Israel, death to the US. They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs with roadside bombs… So many were killed by their general,Qasem Soleimani. I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue.' Trump added, 'This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight's was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal. But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.' He also thanked and congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'We worked as a team like perhaps no team has worked before, and we've gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat. I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they've done, and most importantly, I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decade.' The heavily fortified Fordow site, as reported by ThePrint earlier, was the main target and had been out of reach of the Israelis because of its placement deep within the mountains. The site was first revealed to the world in 2009 even though European and American intelligence agencies had found it earlier. (Edited by Sanya Mathur) Also Read: To be or not to be? Trump's next call on Iran-Israel conflict will reshape West Asia
