Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vishwajit Rane has accused the Congress of being responsible for the highest number of land conversions in Goa’s history, alleging that the party’s policies caused extensive ecological damage during its tenure in power. His remarks came in response to criticism from the Opposition over the government’s land use and planning decisions.
Rane claimed that nearly 9.5 crore square metres of land were converted during the Congress regime, describing it as the largest scale of land conversion ever witnessed in the state. He further alleged that these decisions led to the destruction of traditional salt pans and caused long-term harm to Goa’s fragile ecosystem.
Defending the BJP-led government’s record, the TCP Minister rejected allegations that the current administration was facilitating indiscriminate land conversions. He maintained that planning decisions are being taken within the legal framework and accused the Congress of lacking the moral authority to criticize the government’s environmental policies.
The remarks come amid an ongoing political debate over land use, development policies, and environmental conservation in Goa, with the Opposition continuing to question the government’s handling of planning permissions and amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act.
