As per Goa Investment Promotion Act 2021, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other State law for the time being in force, the Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette declare an area recommended by Board having the potential to develop adequate facilities like power, roads, water supply, etc. an Investment Promotion Area (IPA). An investor with a private land with clear zoning wishing to declare the designated area as Investment Promotion Area has to apply to the Goa Investment Promotion Board for In-principle approval. The Board upon deliberation of the project provides recommendation for IPA. Post recommendation from the Board, Director of Industries, Trade and Commerce takes necessary steps to notify the area as IPA through an official gazette.

Post notification, a Planning Development and Construction Committee (PDCC) is constituted. The PDCC is a body headed by Chief Secretary along with following members:

The PDCC would act a single body to provide the following clearances:

• Change of Land use/conversion
• Construction permits under the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 (Act 9 of 1969), the Goa, Daman and Diu Town and Country Planning Act, 1974 (Act 21 of 1975), the Goa (Regulation of Land Development and Building Construction) Act, 2008 (Goa Act 6 of 2008) and the rules and regulations framed thereunder.

Procedure for IPA and PDCC :

• • Investor applies to the Goa-IPB with a request to notify the land owned/leased by the investor as IPA.
  • The office of Goa-IPB, scrutinizes the application, and verifies the authenticity of the land documents.
  • Once the documents are found to be authentic and the case can be considered for IPA declaration under the

IPB Act 2021, the application is placed for the decision of the Board headed by the Hon’ble CM along with the Project Evaluation by the Consultant.

• After the Board decides to recommend the area for notification of the IPA, the file is sent to Industries Dept. for notification.
• The Industries Dept. further scrutinizes the land documents, and the land is eventually notified with the approval of Hon’ble CM or the State Cabinet depending on the size of the land. It may be noted that prior to notification, there is a 30-day window provided to general public for their comments.
• Once the project is notified as IPA, a Planning Development Construction Committee (PDCC) is formed under the Chairpersonship of Chief Secretary. PDCC also consists of Industries Secretary, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, District Collectors, Chief Town Planner and other relevant HODs.
• The PDCC scrutinizes the applications for granting Conversion Sanad, Technical Clearance, Construction License and other statutory approvals from Govt. of Goa. The concern department is expected to evaluate the projects as per their regulations and provide the feedback to the Committee.
• Once the application is found to be satisfactory, PDCC approves the application and appropriate fees are collected by Goa-IPB. The Licenses are signed by the CEO of Goa-IPB.

Important points pertaining to IPA and PDCC:

• The land with zones restricted under section 45 of Goa Investment Promotion Act 2021 are not considered for notifying as IPA (These include CRZ, Khazan land, Forest etc.).
• The comments of Mamlatdar, DSLR, Forest and TCP are considered while deciding on the Conversion Sanad matter. If their reports are not satisfactory, Conversion Sanad is not granted.
• While granting the Technical clearance, the TCP adheres to the Building Plan regulation in force.
• Construction license fee will be collected by the Goa-IPB and to be reimbursed to the account of concerned Panchayats.