MAPUSA
For Forest Minister Vishwajeet Rane, attack was the best part of defence when he went hammer and tongs against the Opposition for raising the “bogey” of real estate lobby vis-Ã -vis the forests and wildlife sanctuaries.
What took the minister’s goat was a letter written by Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira linking the forest fires to builders' lobby which was placed on the floor of the House during the Question House on Thursday.
In the letter Ferreira said: “Often there could be a hidden hand of the local politician or the builder who is eyeing such lands (forest land) who is acting as a broker and who has direct or indirect interest in such matters and will end up being a playground of the real estate lobby.”
The MLA also said it was imperative for the government to act to protect the forests and environment.
He further asked the government to identify such (forest) lands where the fire raged and identify the species and trees that have been burnt down and direct the owners to replace these burnt trees, failing which the government should undertake such exercise.
Needled with the attempt to link the forest fires to the “real estate lobby”, Rane launched an all-out attack against the Aldona MLA.
“This is a myth created by the MLA. Many of these people say there is a real estate lobby in the wildlife sanctuary. How can anybody just enter in the wildlife sanctuary…Where is the question of vested interest?” said Rane, quite visibly annoyed.
Continuing with his tirade against the Aldona MLA, he said: “Your heart must be also bleeding. You don’t talk about the real estate lobby. Give me evidence when you write such a letter. Which wildlife sanctuary has been sold or a deal has been done with the real estate lobby? Don’t tell me stories through your letter about the real estate. This is a bogey of real estate. That is why land has become zero in the area from where you come from.”
He further said Goa already had a wildlife sanctuary and there were eight MLAs representing the sanctuary who knew about the problems they faced.
“When you are saying real estate lobby, real estate lobby…What real estate lobby? You want Goa to be at standstill? You are defending the Tiger Reserve, it's fine. But what about the people who reside inside the Tiger Reserve? We are not talking about the judicial decision. There is no real estate lobby here,” he said.
However, the Aldona MLA said that he did not make an off the cuff statement and he had evidence where forest land was converted.
“After the land was notified as forest it was removed by an interim report and allowed to be developed. I will show the minister and place it on record,” Ferreira said.
Rane asked the MLA to place the evidence on the floor of the House and assured to take immediate action if any development has happened within the wildlife sanctuary.
