PANJIM: Ex-Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel submitted an affidavit in court, stating that he had “signed more than 700 files in March 2024”, one of which approved rezoning of a plot in Aldona which he later purchased. In this edition of Street Voices, Herald TV spoke to people whether the Chief Secretary should not have bought the plot knowing that the plot was converted during his tenure
The chief secretary converting and then buying a plot is just a drop in the ocean. These central officers who come to Goa, for them Goa is a treasure trove. They invest here either for retirement home or for business. The IPS, IFS or IAS come to Goa with one purpose, not to serve Goa, not for the good of Goa, they come for their self-benefit. Those whom we elect become their agents and brokers. That’s why they are able to accomplish this. They do everything which comes from the Centre and our politicians become their puppets and we have to come to the streets ( to fight this).
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Mariano Ferrao, Social Activist
The Chief Secretary who purchased that plot, should have been aware that that plot had no licences and permissions as required by the law. Secondly, he should also realized that the construction took place in a no development zone in the CRZ area. Thirdly the point that he is trying to make that he just signed the file, it is not so. He has consciously participated in the proceedings of the meeting. Then got this land converted and had intentions of purchasing this property much before the meeting of the committee, is well documented. The government itself and the chief minister himself found that this was a fraudulent purchase and therefore go him shifted from Goa.
Trajano D’Mello , Political Commentator
The property which the then chief secretary purchased and knew that the conversion was done during his tenure, he should not have purchased the property. Because there is a conflict of interest he being the chief secretary. He has been assigned the duty of protecting the entire state. Otherwise it is like telling the cat to guard the milk. It is a shame for the former chief secretary for pretending not to know the concept of conflict of interest. It is not enough to forget and close the issue. Such type of chief secretaries should be brought to book. There has to be accountability, there has to be penalty and such chief secretaries should be arrested and put in jail.
Anthony D’Silva, Social Activist
