Aldona land: ‘Colourable’ power use by chief secy, says PIL in HC

Panaji: Public interest litigation has been filed in the high court alleging an illegal change of zone of an Aldona property, authorised by chief secretary Puneet Kumar Goel — also the TCP secretary — who later bought the land.
The land was converted from a paddy field to a settlement zone under the Regional Plan 2021.
The PIL was mentioned before the division bench of the HC on Wednesday and is likely to be heard next week.
The petitioners have alleged “colourable exercise of powers” by the chief secretary in the matter. They said he signed the file on March 11, approving the change of zone in the form of a correction, two months before he purchased the property from Cyril Philip Mendonca.
The petitioners, Dhirendra Phadte and Jose Maria Miranda, submitted that the TCP secretary already had an interest in the property which can be gauged from the public notice issued by his lawyer. They added that he was fully aware of the two illegal structures on the property and the fact that he would directly benefit from them.
Despite being aware of these facts, TCP minister (Vishwajit Rane) signed the file “indicating his complicity”, the petitioners said.
The lax manner in which the scrutiny committee examined the proposal indicates that it was aware of the interests behind the application, the petitioners said.
They said this is a fit case for inquiry under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
With the zone change, the property has been provided with a quasi-legal cover for eventual regularisation, the petitioners added.
They said the property falls within a no-development zone and that any property designated as a paddy field is classified under the Eco-Sensitive Zone 1 category, where no construction is permitted.
The announcement of the change of zone was published in the official gazette on March 14, just two days before the model code of conduct came into force for the Lok Sabha election, underscoring the urgent need for action, the petitioners said.
They are seeking the quashing and revocation of the notification and a direction to remove the allegedly illegal structures on the paddy field and its restoration to its original condition.
The petitioners are also seeking an investigation by an independent state authority or a retired HC judge to inquire into the case and book culprits for “illegal arbitrary colourable conversions”.