PANAJI: In a major setback to the BJP-led Goa government, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has quashed Section 17(2) of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act and its associated rules, a provision that facilitated land conversions. The verdict, hailed by the Congress as a “massive blow to the BJP’s corrupt land conversion racket,” has reignited political tensions over Goa’s land policies.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar alleged that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his government had been “illegally facilitating land grabs for their cronies at the cost of Goa’s environment and people.” He accused the government of systematically selling Goa to the land mafia through backdoor conversions, claiming that the court’s ruling has now vindicated the Congress Party’s long-standing concerns.
Following the verdict, the Congress has demanded immediate action from the government, including:
- Restoring all lands converted under Section 17(2) to their original status.
- Scrapping all illegal approvals granted under the now-struck-down provision.
- Formulating a full-fledged, transparent, and people-centric Regional Plan to safeguard Goa’s land, heritage, and environment.
“This verdict is a direct indictment of BJP’s corrupt governance,” Patkar asserted, vowing that the Congress Party would take the issue to every village and hold those responsible accountable. He warned Chief Minister Sawant to “stop looting Goa or be prepared to face the people’s wrath.”
The BJP is yet to respond to the High Court ruling and the allegations leveled by the Congress.
