Goa land controversy | The House of Abhinandan Lodha faces fresh scrutiny

Goa has witnessed a surge of public outcry against Town and Country Planning (TCP) and Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane, with activists and concerned citizens accusing him of facilitating unauthorized large-scale land conversions that threaten the state’s fragile ecology. Central to these allegations is the claim that approximately 25 lakh square meters of land were converted into settlement zones between 2023 and 2025 under Section 17(2) of the TCP Act, despite concerns over environmental impact. On March 20, 2025, hundreds of protesters gathered at Church Square in Panaji, demanding Rane’s immediate removal from his ministerial position. The demonstration, spearheaded by various NGOs, including Goencho Avaaz, saw participation from around 300 individuals from different sectors. The protesters attempted to march to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s official residence to voice their grievances but were intercepted by the police.

Goencho Avaaz President Swapnesh Sherlekar and Goa Foundation Director Claude Alvares have been leading the movement, highlighting how Rane’s actions have resulted in indiscriminate land conversions, encroaching upon ecologically sensitive areas. One of the most contentious examples is the approval for a resort on the Surla plateau within the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary—an act widely condemned as detrimental to the sanctuary’s ecological integrity. Adding to the controversy, real estate developer House of Abhinandan Lodha has come under scrutiny for its ventures in Goa. In September 2024, the company ran an advertisement with the tagline “Delhi Rulers,” which sparked backlash and prompted the state government to demand its withdrawal. Critics argue that such corporate players, under the guise of investment, are accelerating the systematic transformation of Goa’s traditional landscapes and communities.

Speaking to The Goan Everyday, Swapnesh Sherlekar remarked, “It is time to call out corporate developers like the House of Abhinandan Lodha, who are entering Goa under the pretext of investment and systematically altering the fabric of our local communities.” Echoing this sentiment, Claude Alvares told Herald Goa, “These real estate companies are not just reshaping landscapes—they are displacing livelihoods and undermining ecological safeguards that took decades to establish.”

In a letter to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Sherlekar outlined three primary charges against Rane:

1. The large-scale application of Section 17(2), despite court rulings against its regulations, leading to the conversion of 25 lakh square meters of land.

2. The alleged misuse of Section 39(A) to facilitate the sale of land across different zones.

3. Corruption and conflict of interest concerning the House of Abhinandan Lodha’s project in Bicholim, which is reportedly linked to Rane himself.

Despite mounting pressure, Rane has outrightly dismissed calls for his resignation, asserting that “the government is not run by NGOs” and reiterating his commitment to the state’s development. This crisis underscores the deepening conflict between environmental conservation and development initiatives in Goa. Activists remain resolute in their demand for accountability, stressing the urgent need to protect Goa’s ecological heritage from unchecked urbanization and policies that prioritize short-term economic gains over long-term sustainability.