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ABHINANDAN LODHA CONQUERS BICHOLIM
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ABHINANDAN LODHA CONQUERS BICHOLIM

Mar 28- April 03, 2026, Stray Thoughts March 27, 2026 , by

AND a few stray thoughts for yet another Saturday. For a Saturday following the week when the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has taken strong objection to TCP Minister Vishwajeet Rane approving conversion of an 80,000 sq mts plot of land at Maulinguem in Bicholim taluka, from natural cover and No Development Zone to settlement, on March 20, 2026. For a Saturday following the week when there have been a very large amount of land cover conversions granted in Bicholim which has become the new focus of developers. For a Saturday following the week when on Babush Monserrate strongly objecting to the proposal to dig up Panjim roads yet again for laying gas pipelines.For a Saturday following the week when the Bombay high court pulling up the Tourism department and Archives department over destruction and damage to a hillock within the precincts of the ancient Chandreshwar Bhootnath temple at Quepem. For a Saturday following the week when the disturbing case of child sex abuse in Curchorem
AND a few stray thoughts on when the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has taken strong objection to TCP Minister Vishwajeet Rane approving conversion of an 80,000 sq mts plot of land at Maulinguem in Bicholim taluka, from natural cover and No Development Zone to settlement, on March 20, 2026. Pramod Sawant has directed the TCP minister to revoke the conversions granted under Section 39A of the TCP Act. Subsequently, on the direction of the CM to the chief TCP officer, an order revoking the conversion has been granted.
It would appear that Vishwajeet Rane has become a power unto himself and does not seek even the CM’s permission before authorizing changes in zone under the disputed Section 39A of the TCP act. In the wake of several BJP MLAs objecting to zone changes in their constituencies it is now the turn of the chief minister himself to red flag conversions under 39A. Pramod Sawant has reportedly lashed out at TCP minister Vishwajeet Rane. Pramod Sawant told the media “with regard to land conversion under Section 39A in Bicholim taluka I have spoken to the minister and told him that it cannot happen.” The CM claimed that he was not informed of the decision by the TCP department. The CM revealed that the land comprised a mix of natural cover and steep slopes.

CONVERSION SPREE
AND a few stray thoughts on when there have been a very large amount of land cover conversions granted in Bicholim which has become the new focus of developers. Among the major builders engaged in development of the Bicholim taluka is the Abhinandan Lodha Group. The Abhinandan Lodha Group has been boasting on Facebook that New Delhi has conquered Goa all over again. This was part of their promotion for a super luxury project offering plots of land and villas with swimming pools on over 5 lakh sq mts of land in Karapur village in Bicholim.
Incidentally, a large part of the land is owned by Karapur Agro, a company promoted by Vishwajeet Rane and his wife Divya Rane. Builders have shifted their focus to the remaining green taluka like Bicholim and Quepem as land prices in the coastal areas have shot up to the sky. The confrontation between the chief minister and Vishwajeet Rane has reached breaking point. In recent times it may recalled that Pramod Sawant preferred to get his angioplasty done at Ruby Hall in Pune, rather than at the Vishwajeet Rane-controlled Goa Medical College and Hospital in Goa.

BABUSH OBJECTS TO DIGGING UP
AND a few stray thoughts on Babush Monserrate strongly objecting to the proposal to dig up Panjim roads yet again for laying gas pipelines. There is pressure on the State government to switch to piped gas in preference to LPG cylinders in view of the shortage caused by the ongoing war in West Asia. The war which has seriously impacted the import of natural gas has led to a severe shortage of compressed natural gas and LPG. The Central government in fact has directed that all households should switch to piped gas where the facility exists. Landlords and landladies have been asked to permit even tenants to opt for connection to the gas pipeline.
The kingmaker in the CCP, Babush Monserrate, is understandably agitated over the plans to dig up the roads after they’ve been just re-laid for gas pipelines to be inserted. Babush points out that the capital city has not yet recovered from the extensive digging up of the smart city works. He points out that new digging would inevitably disturb the existing drainage network, weaken structural stability and severely impact public health.
Babush points out that the work taken up under the smart city was sub-standard. In any case, any new digging will be very traumatic for the residents of Panjim. In a letter to the chief secretary Monserrate has demanded that he should fix responsibility as he was the chairperson of the smart city mission, “I write to formally register my strong objection to the proposed excavation of recently constructed roads and footpaths within the city of Panjim for the purposes of laying a natural gas pipeline. The integrity of the city’s roads infrastructure and drainage is critical to maintaining public safety and normal civic life.”

TOURISM’S BEAUTIFICATION WORKS
AND some stray thoughts on the Bombay high court pulling up the Tourism department and Archives department over destruction and damage to a hillock within the precincts of the ancient Chandreshwar Bhootnath temple at Quepem. The Bhootnath temple which is on sited on top of a steep hill is recognized as a a protected monument under the Goa Ancient Monuments Act, 1978.
The Bhootnath temple is considered as part of the seven sisters story which includes both Catholic and Hindu religious places on hilltops. The temple which till a decade ago could only be reached by a flight of steps has now got a road link and I recall visiting the Bhootnath temple several years ago. The image worshipped is of a folk deity very popular with the Tribal population, from here one gets magnificent views from the compound of the temple of the surrounding countryside far below.
However, the Tourism department had reportedly sought permission for construction of a 300 meter retaining wall and a platform for a toilet block, plus its idea of beautification works in and around the temple. The Goa Tourism Development Corporation reportedly submitted the proposal for beautification work on Sept 20, 2018. The contractor reportedly damaged a part of the hillock in the process of carrying out so called beautification.
In a scathing indictment the high court observed, “We would assume that in a historical place like this protected by the Archeological department, the engineer and archeologists would be on site when the contractor undertook the work. It is happening right under your nose and you don’t bother.” Justice Valmiki Menezes pointed out that every archeology site is being destroyed like this when contracts are awarded in the name of tourism. You can preserve the site and let tourists come and see it but do not destroy the ancient archaeological sites. There are also strong similar objections regarding tourism projects on Divar Island around the Saptakoteshwar temple.

CHILD SEX ABUSE
AND a few stray thoughts on the disturbing case of child sex abuse in Curchorem. It is alleged that the 20 year old son of local BJP leader, who is a councilor in the Curchorem municipality, has been accused of child sex abuse. The local police ignored repeated complaints, forcing local residents to march to the police station demanding action against the molester.
It started with a minor girl from Curchorem being allegedly subjected to sexual abuse over a period of time. The accused reportedly included persons known to the victim, something which is common in such cases. The matter came to light after a complaint by local activists. Finally, the Curchorem police registered a complaint against the accused.
It was subsequently claimed that the accused was involved in over 20 such cases. In view of fears expressed over political pressure on the local police the case has been transferred to the Crime Branch .The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO) has been invoked against the accused. In such cases there is delay in reporting due to fear stigma or pressure. There is growing concern over child safety in semi urban parts of Goa.
It may be recalled that more than three decades ago during the tenure of the late Ravi Naik as chief minister, a major pedophilia case was busted in Colva village in south Goa. A notorious pedophile pretended to be a Protestant priest, calling himself Fr Freddy Peats. Under the guise of getting young youth jobs abroad, he persuaded mothers to send their children to his mansion in the village.
Freddy Peats was running an international pedophile racket. When parents went to find out what was happening to the jobs promised they discovered heaps of pornographic material in Freddy Peats mansion. Freddy Peats was apparently running an international pedophile racket. He was arrested and sentenced for life till he died in Aguado jail.

DON’T BLOCK PUBLIC PATHWAYS
AND a few stray thoughts on Evantika Pereira launching a movement against exclusive structures in the villages. Evantika is a young architect who has pointed out that people from Delhi and Mumbai are building villas behind huge walls. The new colonizers have blocked traditional pathways in beautiful villages like Saligao, Assagao, Colva, Benaulim, etc. This is in sharp contrast to the Goan tradition of open access housing with their balcao. The balcao were meant for interaction in the village.
However, the super luxury villas of Delhi residents, shutting themselves off behind iron grills and huge walls, is alien to the Goan way of life. Now Evantika has started a movement to educate the new high network migrants for the need to integrate with the local ecology. We wish her good luck in appealing to these new residents of Goa.

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