Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jan 15: Goa’s Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing it of causing extensive damage to the state through large-scale land conversions during its tenure in power.

Responding to allegations raised by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Rane claimed that the Congress government had converted nearly 9.5 crore square metres of land—the largest in the state’s history. He alleged that these conversions had resulted in widespread ecological harm with long-term consequences for Goa’s environment.

Rane also accused the party of destroying traditional salt pans, causing irreversible ecological damage. Questioning the Congress’s credibility on environmental matters, he said, “The same Congress that converted maximum land and destroyed salt pans is now sitting on public platforms demanding that Goa be saved.” He asserted that the party lacked the moral authority to lecture the government on environmental protection.

The remarks come amid ongoing political debates in the state over land use, development policies, and the need to balance economic growth with environmental conservation.