Hundreds of protesters held a demonstration outside the home of Goa minister Vishwajit Rane in Dona Paula on Monday to demand the scrapping of a provision about land-use change under the Town and Country Planning Act, The Indian Express reported.
In response to the agitation, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant claimed that protesting outside the minister’s home was not right, adding that a proper representation can be given to the collector, The Times of India reported.
The protests erupted on Saturday after villagers of Palem-Siridao in St Andre Assembly constituency organised a sit-in at the Town and Country Planning Department office, demanding the revocation of the land “correction” of several plots approved under Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act, The Indian Express reported.
Section 39A of the Act, which was notified in 2024, allows the chief town planner to modify development plans to change land zones. This allows for “spot zoning” changes based on individual applications, which are subject to public objections in the gazette till 30 days.
Spot zoning refers to the reclassification of a small, specific parcel of land for a use that differs from the surrounding area’s designated zoning.
The protesters have alleged that over 84,000 sq m of land in Palem-Siridao, including hill slopes, orchards and no development zones, was being converted into a “settlement” zone by the Town and Country Planning Department by misusing Section 39A of the Act, The Indian Express reported.
This conversion would permit construction in the area, they contended.
St Andre MLA and Revolutionary Goans Party leader Viresh Borkar told the newspaper that rampant land conversions were being allowed under the provision. This will destroy entire villages across Goa, he claimed, adding that the protesters were demanding that the provision be scrapped.
Borkar has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Panaji’s Azad Maidan since Saturday.
During the protest at the Town and Country Planning Department office on Saturday, Borkar also alleged that he had been “dragged” out by police officers. The protesters have demanded action against these police officers for “manhandling” the legislator.
On Monday, the protesters had decided to continue their demonstration and sit outside Rane’s home, The Times of India reported. The protesters marched to his home after gathering at Azad Maidan, even as police put up barricades along the route.
Several Opposition leaders, including Congress leaders Yuri Alemao and Sunil Kawthankar, and Aam Aadmi Party MLA Venzy Viegas had joined the protest outside Rane’s home, PTI reported. However, the protesters later returned to Azad Maidan.
Alemao said that the decision was taken as Borkar’s health had deteriorated. “We will decide the future course of action after consultations soon,” The Indian Express quoted the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly as saying.
Borkar was later shifted to a hospital, PTI reported.
On Monday night, the chief minister said that the protesters had the right to protest but added that this should be “within limits”, The Indian Express reported. Sawant added that it was not right to go to a minister’s home “because he has his personal privacy”.
Responding to the claims that Borkar had been “manhandled” at the protest outside the Town and Country Planning Department office on Saturday, Sawant said that a government office had several things to consider, including the safety of staffers and files, the newspaper reported.
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