Panaji: Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing the party of causing extensive and irreversible damage to Goa through large-scale land conversions when it was in power.
Responding to allegations by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Rane alleged that successive Congress governments had converted nearly 9.5 crore square metres of land, which he claimed was the highest conversion recorded in the state’s history. He said the move had resulted in severe ecological damage with long-term consequences for Goa.
The minister also accused the Congress of destroying traditional salt pans, leading to what he termed irreversible harm to the coastal ecosystem. Questioning the party’s stand on environmental protection, Rane said the Congress lacked the moral authority to criticise the present government.
“The same Congress which converted maximum land and destroyed salt pans is today sitting on public platforms claiming to save Goa,” he said.
