Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Taking strong objection to section 17 (2) of the TCP Act, Congress leader Girish Chodankar has alleged that TCP and Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane is using both his portfolios to sell and destroy land of Goa.
According to Chodankar, the government has brought in 17(2) sections to change the zones, however they want.
“Now if any party come and say that their land is shown in orchard instead of settlement areas, and then the government has right to correct it with the help of section 17 (2) of the TCP Act,” Chodankar said.
He said that this is not done in the welfare of Goa, but Rane has done it for his welfare. “government should scrap this proposed amendments at the earliest if it has no hidden agenda behind it,” Chodankar said.
Chodanakar said that even small pockets of land admeasuring 250 square meters to bigger pockets of land can be converted to settlement using this section.
“It is strange that all of a sudden Vishwajit Rane felt that Regional Plan 2021 is full of illegalities. Now in the name of correction, they will make changes of zone paving the way for corruption and another scam,” Chodankar alleged.
He condemned the act of arbitrary Land Conversion Under Goa’s TCP Act Section 17(2) as being used to ruin the green cover of Goa.
“There is no transparency in this process of conversion. Government has excluded local governing bodies from the conversion process, despite significant impacts on their jurisdiction,” he pointed out.
He said that conversions involving areas designated as private forests have raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest by Rane, who holds TCP and forest portfolios.
“This is nothing but to convert the lands in wholesale benefitting the near and dear ones of Minister and also to garner huge money out of this,” he said.
“It is high time that Goans should rise again and object to this particular section, else this government will finish our beautiful Goa.” He said.
