PANAJI
Amid Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar taking on his own government on the draft zoning plan for Pernem, TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane made a direct charge against the legislator claiming that the coastal MLA has converted over one lakh sq mtrs of land for his personal gain.
Addressing a press conference, Rane produced a file, containing all the details of conversion of land that included natural cover with no development slope, cultivable land zone with irrigation command area, partly orchard and party paddy field into settlement under Section 16B of the TCP Act. The applications were not processed in view of the court matter.
All these conversions were sought in the villages of Dhargal, Virnoda, Torxem of Pernem Taluka. “This MLA had come to me with the file requesting for the zone change and inclusion in the zoning plan. He wanted me to convert only this one lakh sq mtrs of land and not the surrounding areas,” Rane said.
“The MLA said that if the surrounding plots are also converted, he won’t benefit. I told him that I am not a Dalal sitting here. I don’t work for the interest of one person. These are the people with vested interest,” he added.
The Minister also pointed out that the MLA has illegally constructed a farmhouse in a paddy field. “I have directed the Chief Town Planner to issue a show cause notice and issue a demolition order,” he said.
The Minister charged the MLA of being involved in all sorts of illegalities. “Even in SIT (land grab) his name is there…I never went to the Supreme Court for bail,” he said.
