Team Herald
PANJIM: The political no holds barred battle between TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane and his former party man and cabinet colleague Michael Lobo, now Congress’ leader of the opposition, was in full public display.
The TCP minister, not just ensuring that the NGPDA issued a show-cause motive over two of his well-known properties over his alleged illegal construction of the premise – Baga Deck and Nazri Resort, located in Calangute village. In both the cases, the NGPDA said that “there are major violations or illegal construction carried out by the owner/developer”.
Lobo has also been asked to stop using both the premises immediately “You are directed to stop using the aforesaid illegal construction or premise till the disposal of the show cause notice failing which the Authority shall take further necessary action,” reads the notice issued by NGPDA member secretary R K Pandita.
RANE’S CORNER: Speaking to journalists after the board meeting of the TCP Minister Rane said “both cases are fit for demolition. During my tenure as Minister, I will see that both the structures are demolished”.
Incidentally, the NGPDA decided to pick just these two properties in the entire ODP. The PDA notice mentioned “The owner is directed to stop operation of both the facilities, failing which action would be initiated.
Lobo has been directed to reply to the show-cause notice as to “why the necessity of demolition of the illegal construction shall not be taken under Section 52 of Town and Country Planning Act 1974” within seven days, failing which action including demolition of the construction would be initiated.
Incidentally, Nazri Resorts has been the venue for many of the ruling party’s political and celebratory meetings with Lobo’s birthdays attended by the party’s top brass when Lobo was an MLA and minister in the BJP
LOBO’S CORNER: Hitting back Lobo questioned the rationale behind the suspension of Outline Development Plans (ODPs) by the same government officials who approved these plans, “ I will challenge this”, he said.
Refuting all allegations leveled against him by TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane, Lobo asked Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to intervene in the matter. He said that the Chief Minister should clarify if the ODPs get changed with the appointment of the new TCP Minister
Stating that there is no conversion of large-scale tenanted land in Parra, Lobo demanded to know how a satellite township is being created with 400 FAR near the world UNESCO heritage site at old Goa and announced that he will raise this matter long with the Vagheri Hill cutting issue in the ensuing monsoon session of Goa Assembly.
RANE’S CORNER: Rane didn’t pull back any punches. He retorted “We will table the names of those who have personally abused powers. Action will be taken against all,” he said.
“Once we submit the report, we will expose how much property has been purchased by that one person. How much conversion has been done,” he said.
LOBO’S CORNER: In a riposte, referring to the Goa government’s suspension of the ODPs for Calangute-Candolim, Parra-Arpora-Nagoa and Vasco in April Lobo pointed out that the ODPs were approved during the BJP regime itself by the same government officials including Chief Town Planner Rajesh Naik. He further said that the plans were drafted under the supervision of then TCP Minister Babu Kavalekar and then NGPDA Chairman Francis Silveira and alleged ‘ulterior motives’ and one-upmanship in the suspension of the ODPs.
AT SUNSET: Rane is preparing to zero in on more of Lobo’s land-related activities, the leader of the opposition has called an urgent meeting of the Congress Legislator Party tomorr0ow (Friday) to take political stock of the situation and decide on a response strategy.
‘Apnnak hanga khorpota mhun, dusreanchem khorpunk lagnaka’
Asked why other ODPs were scrapped or on hold except his (Greater Panjim), Revenue Minister Babush Monseratte quipped “I’m not bothered about Michael (Lobo), TCP Minister is there. Ultimately it is his (Vishwajit’s) dept. Because it is scratching you here do not scratch others, (elsewhere).
No more party time?: Can the ‘party’ continue, after changing from one party to another
Those were the days when Lobo was in the “right” party and as he and others mentioned. It was the same Chief Minister and the same party’s government with Vishwajit Rane also a minister in that Government.
And the same Nazri resort of Lobo’s was the venue for all his personal and political celebrations, attended by the ruling party’s top brass.
