TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: There is no headway into the Vigilance probe instituted into the alleged irregularities in the Goa Housing Board land admeasuring 1.26 lakh sq mts at Panzorconne-Cuncolim, despite the Parrikar-led government coming to power over the last one year.
The Vigilance Department was mandated to investigate whether a sizeable chunk of the acquired land was illegally usurped by some unscrupulous elements.
Sources in the know said the department had initially compiled a preliminary report on the matter, but it’s not clear till date whether the probe has found out any irregularities and discrepancies in the case. When Herald contacted, Vigilance Director Amersen Rane, said that the inquiry was still underway, but did not give any time frame for its completion. “The inquiry is presently underway. We are investigating into all aspects of the case. The inquiry is not closed. Our officers are working on the case,” remarked Rane.
Mystery surrounds the slow pace of inquiry into the GHB land, even as the Vigilance Director defended the delay in capping the probe saying the investigating agency is pre-occupied with a host of other inquiries.
Interestingly, neither Vigilance nor Goa Housing Board are willing to state whether the Housing Board is in actual possession of the 1.26 lakh sq mts of the acquired land in question. When contacted, Goa Housing Board Managing Director Elvis Gomes said the file is presently with the Vigilance Department. Sources in the Vigilance, on the other hand, said the land is required to be demarcated to throw light on the question whether the Housing Board is still in possession of the acquired land or not.
That’s not all. The 1.26 lakh sq mts of land, which was acquired by the GHB with the avowed objective of setting up a housing colony, has not been handed over to the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) till date despite payment of an amount of Rs 5.50 crore.
The GSUDA had stepped in to take the land in its possession after local residents of Panzorconne in particular and Cuncolkars in general had strongly opposed the housing board colony in their neighbourhood, fearing influx of outsiders into the area.
Former GSUDA Vice-Chairman Mario Moraes has claimed that the transfer of land could not take place since the Housing Board demanded Rs 11.26 crore to be paid in advance vied letter dated March 9, 2006, addressed to the GSUDA Member Secretary.
