On July 23, a report on Hindustan Times website titled “21.29 lakh sq m green zones in Goa converted for construction in 15 months: Data” by reporter Gerard de Souza detailed how two changes in rules reportedly made way for the spurt in land conversion. The report was based on data shared by Goa’s forest minister Vishwajit Rane in the state legislative assembly last week in response to a query by AAP MLA Cruz Silva.
Souza’s report named the prominent land buyers: A company named Karapur Estates Private Limited, whose directors include Vishwajit Rane and his wife Deviya Rane; RRR fame actor Konidala Ramcharan Tej; Preetham Reddy Nalla, a Hyderabad-based businessman; and right-wing organisations such as the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and the Sanatan Sanstha.
