Team Herald
PANJIM: Terming the death of Fr Bismarque Dias as murder, Bharat Mukti Morcha (BBM) said that the first issue the activist-priest had taken up was of the sale of Vanxim land.
BMM President Maggie Sylveira, speaking to the media, condemned the decision of the Goa Investment Promotion Board (IPB) to clear the five-star luxury project at Vanxim Island for Ozone Group without even visiting the island once.
“There are no records that any IPB member visiting Vanxim island to examine the ecological status of the place or to learn of the violation of civil and canon laws done by the Church while selling this land,” said Maggie Sylveira.
Terming GIPB as an Imperialism Promotion Board, BMM demanded the immediate withdrawal of the clearance given to the hotel project. BBM said that GIPB is a brainchild of then chief minister Manohar Parrikar as it was conceived during his tenure.
BMM also alleged that the Church fraudulently sold the property to Mahendra Gaunekar who in turn sold it to the Bangalore-based developers. Sylveira raised apprehensions that the residents of Vanxim will be slowly evicted and alleged that it is there in the portion of the agreement of sale.
Church representatives have already rubbished the allegations saying the sale was done by following proper procedures according to law.
There are about 200 people living on the island which has approximately 80 houses. The island in River Mandovi is ecologically fragile and the only access to the island is through a ferry service.
