Days after The Indian Express investigation reported that two state ministers, politicians cutting across party lines and several real estate companies in Goa are alleged beneficiaries of a contentious change in land use law, Union Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy Shripad Naik, one of the beneficiaries named, said Friday he is “ready to withdraw” his application if “any kind of illegalities are found.” Or, if the provision under the contentious section 17 (2) of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act “is found illegal or if any discrepancy is found in the procedure”. As reported by The Indian Express on September 9, the TCP department approved change in land use for at least 20 lakh sq m of land over the past 18 months, converting “green zones” into “settlements” — allowing construction activity for both residential and commercial purposes, pushing up the land’s value manifold. The changes were allowed after a March 2023 amendment, Section 17 (2), to the Goa TCP Act 1974, which allows conversion of plots without public consultation if the owner approaches the department with a request to “correct inadvertent errors” or “rectify inconsistent/incoherent zoning” in Goa’s Regional Plan 2021. As reported by The Indian Express, on July 25, 2023, an application from the six-time BJP MP from North Goa was received for rezoning of 14,225 sq m of orchard and natural cover to settlement in Panelim village in Tiswadi taluka. The application was corrected and notified in the Official Gazette on February 15, 2024. In a press statement, Naik said on Friday, “Upon the advice of my family, friends, well-wishers and respecting the sentiments of my Goan brothers and sisters and in the larger public interest, I have decided to withdraw my application and surrender the approval granted to me for my property for change of zone to settlement, if any kind of illegalities are found and brought to my notice. I am ready to withdraw my application even if provision under 17(2) of TCP Act, which was passed by the state government, is found illegal or if any discrepancy is found in the procedure. It is up to the state Government to verify whether the provision of 17(2) of TCP Act is in the state’s interest or not.” In his note, Naik recalled that the property was acquired and owned by his family for over 20 years. “The property was gifted to my beloved deceased wife by her family. I have declared ownership over the said property in every election affidavit of mine. The same is also submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office every year in the form of an annual report. After the sad demise of my beloved wife in January 2021, me and my family wished to devote the property for public purpose in her name for community purposes. So when this wish was expressed before my party colleagues, I was informed about a new law introduced by the state government and (they) suggested me to apply under it, for getting the zone changed from Orchard to Settlement,” he wrote. “It is important to note that my application was forwarded to the TCP Department, Government of Goa as per the normal procedure prescribed in the rules. Further through routine process, my application got approved. This entire procedure took eight months, which is clearly indicative of a transparent process followed, and I have not made any undue advantage of my position… I have followed all the laws laid down by the State Government and paid all the fees as levied upon me to get the approvals. I have done nothing in violation of the law or with malafide intentions. I have never been embroiled in any scam or controversy in my entire public life and don’t intend to get involved in any now, not even by mistake,” he wrote. When contacted by The Indian Express, Naik said: "Regarding this plot, I have followed all the laws and regulations. If the state government decides to cancel this provision, I am ready to withdraw… I am ready to withdraw (the application) if any illegality is found and brought to my notice." In his statement, Naik referred to what he called the The Indian Express’s “unbiased” investigation “without any fear of anyone or any sort” as evidence that “our Government believes in press freedom and will never intervene, leave alone suppress, the media and their functioning.”
