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Typo correction empowers Panchayats
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Typo correction empowers Panchayats

Uncategorized October 31, 2025 , by

By Praveena Sharma

Rectification of typo in the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 – from “special planning” to “spatial planning” – will ensure a more participatory model, moving away from top-down to bottom-up

How long does it take to correct a typo – a typographical error made while typing or printing – you’ve discovered?
If you were to pose this query to Sabina Martins, convenor of Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) – an organisation that brings together action groups to secure the ecological future of Goa’s land, water, species, and livelihoods – her response would be “years”.
From the time the former Sarpanch of Village Panchayat (VP) Moira, Vigilia De Sa, accidentally came across the typo in the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 to the time it was rectified, many years elapsed.
De Sa discovered the error while she was studying the Panchayat Act to understand how the new regional plan could be drafted as per the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which empowers the Panchayats by imposing constitutional obligation upon States to enact and follow the Panchayati Raj Acts.
She found the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 had used the word “special planning” instead of “spatial planning. This verbal mistake changed the whole context and meaning of land use powers being endowed on Panchayats in the legislative document.
GBA had already succeeded in getting the Regional Plan (RP), 2011 pulled back by the government and was trying to push for a revised regional plan.
The RP, 2011 had been drafted to replace the outdated RP, 2001 to update land­use zoning, settlement areas, industrial and commercial zones, and ecologically sensitive zones but critics believed it would be disastrous for Goa with indiscriminate changes in zoning and land-use. It was also said to lack transparency and sufficient public participation.
As the government carried on with massive alterations in land zoning, including village-level mapping, this discovery of the verbal error was significant. Martins, along with other activists, got down to getting typo corrected.
After knocking on several government doors, she finally succeeded in getting the Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2025 – introduced to rectify the typo in the Act – passed in the State legislative assembly in March.
It was not until August that the bill was sent to the Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who assented to it on August 19. The amendment was notified through an extraordinary gazette issued by the department of law on October 24.
“Amendment of Section 239.— In Section 239 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (Goa Act No. 14 of 1994), in sub-section (7), in Clause (a), in sub-clause (i), for the words “special planning”, the words, “spatial planning” shall be substituted,” states the notification.
The amendment Act will now see spatial planning move from top-down to bottom-up participatory model, meaning it will start at the ward level within the Village Panchayat and Municipal Councils, move to the Zilla Panchayat for district planning and culminate at the State Regional Plan.
With this correction notified, Martins says local bodies will now get spatial planning power. In the context of Panchayat, it ensures its participation in the planning of land use, rural development and allocation of local resources.
“The government now has to plan how it is going to devolve this (spatial) power to the Panchayat and how they are going to implement the spatial planning process at the Panchayat level. As far as execution is concerned, we will be monitoring. We can’t take the role of the government. They (government) have all the resources at their disposal to do it,” said Martins.
Sandip Jacques, law secretary, said the latest amendment in the Panchayat Act will enable Panchayats to assert their spatial powers.
“It is not special, it is spatial. Spatial means they (Panchayats) would be participating in the planning of the areas and spaces in their villages. Basically, it now flows from the constitution. Earlier, they could not assert that power,” he said.
Even when the bill had to be moved in the assembly, it was done by the directorate of Panchayat moved the proposal for the amendment.
De Sa, who as Sarpanch of Moira over two decades back faced with different set of issues, said with the amendment bill now notified, the major task was to create awareness among villagers.
“What we have seen is that once people understand they take leadership and go ahead. That how something becomes a mass movement,” she said.
For Martins, the whole exercise is about safeguarding the democratic institutions, notwithstanding deep-rooted corruption.
“There are two issues now. Corruption is one and democratic rights is another. Now, corruption has seeped in everywhere, even in democratic institutions. Just because corruption has seeped in democratic institutions, do we do away with our democratic institution and democratic powers? No, we have to safeguard them even as we weed away corruption. So, the whole challenge of implementing this law is two-folds,” she said.

Parra Panchayat Exercised Its Powers to Protect Itself

Recently, when Parra Village in North Goa was threatened by overdevelopment and largescale irregularities in construction approvals, its Panchayat acted swiftly by coming out with policies and frameworks to check further destruction and “preserve the character, environment and resources of Parra for the present and future generations.”
The policy was prepared with the help of experts from different fields. It was then approved by the Gram Sabha – the legislative body at the Panchayat level – and submitted to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
“Let’s protect our heritage and culture. This is what we are elected for,” Parra Sarpanch Daniel Lobo proclaimed.
Some of the measures Parra Panchayat took are:
• Height Restriction for Building – It was limited to ground-plus-one floor with ruler/measurement icon showing 9 meters.
• No Zone Changes – A land-use zoning map showing a red cross and a signage reading “Panchayat Consent Required.
• Ban on Multi-dwelling Projects – A sign of cross over an image of large apartment block.
• Conservation Priority – An illustration of a pond with lotus and heritage trees with a sign ‘Protected’.
• Heritage Protection – Heritage signboard on Indo-Portuguese houses and Maddani Road.

Significance of the Term ‘Spatial’ In A Local Act

In the Panchayat Act, ‘spatial’ refers to the geographical arrangement and organisation of activities within a village. It, particularly, relates to land use, urban and rural development, and allocation of resources.
What replacement of ‘special’ with ‘spatial’ in the local Act denotes:
Participatory Planning – Spatial planning in local Acts allows citizen participation. It reaffirms the right of the local bodies and citizens to be involved in the planning of their area.
Land Use Management – Spatial planning involves where and how land can be developed, balancing economic, social, and environmental factors. It establishes regulations for different zones, ensuring that commercial, residential, and industrial areas are organised logically and sustainably.
Balanced Development – Spatial planning helps local administrative bodies in a rational territorial organisation of land use and promotes a more even distribution of economic development across a region, rather than leaving it solely to market forces. It also helps coordinate conflicting land-use demands from different sectors like housing, economic activity, and environmental protection.
Geospatial Data – It relies heavily on geospatial tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to create and analyse maps, allowing local authorities to visualise assets, overlay development schemes, and prepare integrated spatial plans based on precise data.
Infrastructure Development – Spatial planning powers with local governments assist in use of spatial data to optimise public transit routes or identify areas in need of water and electrical infrastructure.

The Extent of Panchayati Raj

Panchayats enjoy extensive power under the Panchayati Raj Act (as per the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, and respective State Panchayati Raj Acts). It is spread across administrative, financial and developmental functions related to local governance.
The Gram Panchayat has the authority to organise Gram Sabha meetings and present annual plans and budgets.
The 73rd Amendment Act, 1992, which was added Part IX to the Indian Constitution (Articles 243–243O) and the Eleventh Schedule, lists 29 subjects that can be devolved to Panchayats.

Project Approval Powers
Under the Act, Panchayats have the power to grant approval to construction and development projects within the limits of a village.
However, the extent and nature of these powers depend on the State Panchayati Raj Act and local government rules.

  1. Role of Panchayats in Approving Construction and Projects:

(A) Gram Panchayat
• It generally has the authority to approve building construction within village limits including residential houses, shops and small commercial buildings, community halls, wells, toilets, etc.
• It can grant building permits or No Objection Certificates (NOC) for construction activities, subject to rules and building by-laws.
• It must ensure constructions follow local planning norms, such as land use (agriculture vs. residential), distance from roads or water bodies, environmental and sanitation standards, prevent unauthorised constructions or encroachments on village commons or government land.
Under the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act, 1993, the Village Panchayat can issue building licenses and regulate construction within its jurisdiction. Similar powers exist in states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Kerala.

(B) Panchayat Samiti (Block Level)
Typically, it reviews and coordinates development projects proposed by Gram Panchayats, approves block-level schemes related to roads, irrigation, education, or health centres and ensures that village-level projects fit within the overall block development plan.

(C) Zila Parishad (District Level)
It approves and monitors major construction projects such as rural hospitals, school buildings, large roads, coordinate implementation of state and central government schemes across multiple Panchayats.

  1. Projects Requiring Panchayat Approval:
    • Construction of new houses or shops on private land within village limits.
    • Setting up of public buildings such as schools, anganwadi, community halls and others.
    • Road widening or drainage construction.
    • Installation of hand pumps, borewells or water tanks.
    • Small-scale industrial or commercial units, subject to zoning rules.
  2. Constraints of Panchayats
    • They cannot approve large infrastructure or industrial projects like highways, power plants, or telecom towers. These are handled by district or State authorities.
    • All approvals must comply with State Town & Country Planning (TCP) Acts, environmental regulations and building codes.
    • Land ownership must be clear. Gram Sabha approval may be required for use of common land.

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