Goa Minister Faces Police Complaint Over Alleged Soil Excavation in Reserved Forest

A fresh controversy has erupted in Goa after a senior forest department official lodged a police complaint against state minister Subhash Phal Desai , alleging illegal excavation and transportation of soil from a government forest area in Sanguem taluka .

The complaint, filed by Kurdi Range Forest Officer Sonia B. Rane at the Quepem police station on Saturday, claims that large-scale clearing of vegetation, excavation and transportation of soil was being carried out from government forest land in Colomba village . According to the complaint, forest officials discovered two excavators and four trucks engaged in the activity within an area covered under forest protection regulations.

Rane alleged that despite repeated instructions from forest personnel to halt the work, the operators refused to comply. The complaint states that the operators told officials they had been directed by Phal Desai to continue the excavation and transportation activities.

According to the forest department officer, the situation intensified when the minister allegedly arrived at the site and instructed workers to carry on with the operation. The complaint further accuses him and his supporters of preventing forest officials from taking action against what was described as an illegal activity within a government forest area .

The forest department has also alleged that several trees were uprooted during the excavation process, resulting in potential violations of forest conservation laws and government policies aimed at increasing green cover. Video footage and photographs of the incident have reportedly been submitted to the police as evidence to help identify those involved and support further legal action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita .

The allegations have, however, been strongly contested by Minister Phal Desai . Speaking earlier in the day, he maintained that the soil was not being removed for commercial purposes. Instead, he claimed the material was being shifted within the same locality to facilitate the development of a sports ground for local youth .

"There is no reason for the forest department to object to this relocation exercise," the minister said, defending the project as a community-oriented initiative .

Meanwhile, police confirmed that a minor scuffle took place between the groups present at the site, though officials said the situation was quickly brought under control and did not escalate further.

The complaint has now brought the matter into the spotlight, setting the stage for a potential investigation into the alleged environmental violations and the circumstances surrounding the excavation activity.