Following the complaint received from Goa Foundation pertaining to notified ODP of Arpora designating tenanted agricultural lands within their jurisdiction as settlement or commercial zones, which is in explicit violation of the Agricultural Tenancy Act and the Goa Land use Act 1991. Such orders of the PDA amount to diversion of the areas from agriculture to non- agriculture and are of a criminal nature. The department of Town & Country Planning will initiate strict action.
TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane stated, ‘After such wrongdoings being highlighted, our decision to suspend ODPs speaks volumes. Several people have been involved in violation of the land revenue code & Town Planning Act, they will be criminally persecuted. Conversion of tenanted land is not permissible by law. It is a violation of the land revenue code, and the officials of TCP cannot allow this. We will take criminal action against those involved. This is just one example, several other incidents will be brought to light as we move forward.’
He said that they will lead the way with strict action and lodge FIRs wherever necessary and officials will be placed under suspension and terminated if found guilty.
In his personal view, he opined, once this is done, the villages of Parra, Nagao, Candolim and Calangute should be removed from the jurisdiction of the PDA after it is reverted back to its original status.
He warned that this is just the tip of the iceberg, more details will be highlighted in public domain. “I will table a comprehensive report on the floor of the house in the assembly highlighting all the illegalities and irregularities. Using public office for personal gain will not be tolerated and will be treated as a violation under the Prevention of Corruption Act,” he cautioned.
