Team Herald
PANJIM: TCP minister Vishwajit Rane, promising to make transparency his trump card, has spearheaded a TCP Board decision to revert over 9.5 lakh square meters (Sq mts) of land to its original status.
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His target was clear. His former colleague and minister and now Leader of Opposition Michael Lobo who he chose to refer to as “a particular individual”, a “mystery individual” and even a “so-called individual” during his public interaction, after taking major decisions
Although indirectly, the TCP Minister further leveled severe charges against Lobo for pressuring the TCP officials to sign conversion documents.
“To ensure Goa’s posterity and that its identity is maintained, I am forced to take such a harsh step in consultation with the stakeholders. The TCP Board has decided to revert 9.5 lakh square meters of land to its original status,” Rane said at a press conference held in Van Bhavan in Panjim on Monday.
Many prominent captains of industries and heads of different companies in the corporate ecosystem of Goa have been taken on board as advisors and consultants to help with the planning process
He went on add that North Goa Planning & Development Authority (NGPDA) Member Secretary has submitted to the government in writing that he was pressurized to sign documents of conversion. Rane said the complaint would be sent to the appropriate authority for action. Incidentally, Lobo held the post of NGPDA Chairman for a considerable period.
As he continued to target Lobo, Rane said that over 16 lakh square meters of land were converted in Calangute, Candolim, Arpora-Nagoa, and Parra ODPs. It is out of these 16,94,115 sq mts of illegally converted land to various zones that TCP Board decided to revert 9.5 square meters to its original status.
“There are certain people who have not only converted their land but are also partners in the conversion of others’ land in North Goa. I am forced to take such a harsh step. The decision is taken in consultation with all the stakeholders on board. A report in this regard will be placed in the ensuing monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly,” he added.
Expressing shock at how ‘rampant conversion of land’ occurred during the previous stint of the government, Rane stated that an additional settlement area around Calangute, Candolim, Arpora, Nagoa, and Parra was converted to various zones from tenanted land, no development zones, mangroves, cultivable land, etc. Moreover, huge tracts of land were also converted into orchards, no development zone, and agricultural land, from its actual status of settlement land.
Meanwhile, the State government has also decided to redraft Outline Development Plans (ODPs) for Kadamba Plateau, Mapusa, Margao, Ponda, and Panjim areas. “As of now there are no ODPs for these areas and it will be redrafted by TCP,” he said.
