A day after The Indian Express 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, the BJP said that “if there are any violations, strict action would be taken, regardless of who the person is”. Giriraj Pai Vernekar, the party’s state spokesperson, said the BJP government has taken several steps to safeguard Goan land, especially its paddy fields, under the leadership of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. “Various bills have been passed to protect agricultural lands, including raising the cost of zone conversion for larger plots and restricting the sale of paddy fields only to farmers. The revenue code has been amended to prevent the conversion of agricultural zones,” he said. “The Opposition is creating issues about lands converted during the Congress regime as well. Dr Sawant has repeatedly stated that he is open to reviewing any permission that may disturb the ecology or identity of Goa. The government remains firm in its stance against any illegalities. If there are any violations, strict action will be taken, regardless of who the person is,” he said. The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party alleged that through contentious land use regulations, the BJP government has allowed a “politician-real estate nexus” to proliferate. Amit Patkar, president, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee, said the Town and Country Planning (TCP) portfolio has become a “land and real estate mafia promotion ministry”. “This is a big racket. All the illegal land conversions have already started destroying the unique identity of Goa… The BJP and its crony friends are eyeing Goa's every inch of land. We must have planned development. The only purpose of these TCP amendments introduced in almost every session is to allow the illegal conversions of green zones and orchards lands.” The Congress also distanced itself from former Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado, who is among the alleged beneficiaries. “He was an independent MLA who had earlier supported the BJP. He joined the Congress party just before the 2022 election. He contested on a Congress ticket and lost. Since then, he has not been in active political activities. I dare the TCP minister and the Chief Minister to name Congress leaders who are involved in illegal land conversions," Patkar said. AAP Goa chief Amit Palekar, said, “There is a politician-real estate nexus. With the entry of many real estate players from outside the state, the ethos and identity of Goa is changing…. The recent amendments (to the TCP Act) give discretionary and uncontrolled powers to certain sections of the society, including to the ministers, for (land) conversions, which will harm Goa.” As reported by The Indian Express, the state’s Town and Country Planning 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 Town and Country Planning Act 1974. Records show that one beneficiary is a firm that has TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane and his spouse as directors; Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira is also a beneficiary. While Rane said “everything has been strictly done as per the guidelines and under the ambit of law”, Sequeira said the land was incorrectly zoned, “so we got it corrected”.
