PANAJI: The Town and Country Planning (TCP) department has identified 2.2 lakh sqm of tenanted agricultural land in the villages of Parra, Nagoa, Arpora, Candolim and Calangute, which have been converted into settlement and commercial zones.
Pointing fingers at Congress, TCP minister Vishwajit Rane said that the land will be reverted to its original state and action will be taken against those guilty of violating the Land Revenue Code.
“It has come to my notice that 2,20,000sqm of tenanted land is being converted in Parra, Nagoa, Arpora, Candolim and Calangute areas in violation of the land revenue code. It will be returned to its original status. A probe will be initiated on such savages violating the code,” said Rane.
Rane said that the TCP’s 10-member scrutiny committee is going through all violations and zone conversion and all violations will be investigated and taken to their logical end.
“The culprits will be exposed. It is our responsibility, as well as the responsibility of the BJP government,” Rane said.
Though Rane has dropped enough hints holding former North Goa Planning and Development Authority chairman and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo accountable for the alleged illegalities, this time around, Rane has blamed Congress.
“It seems like Congress has become a 30% ownership party. These are the same people who have destroyed Goa and claim to care about its people. Finally, they are filling their own pockets at the expense of destroying Goa for the sole purpose of increasing their wealth,” the TCP minister said.
The TCP department has already launched a probe into all the outline development plans (ODPs) in the state, which have now been suspended. The department has also cracked down on unauthorised hill cutting, land filling and construction in eco-sensitive zones.
