PORVORIM: A calling attention notice tabled by Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira regarding land acquired by the Goa Housing Board sparked furore in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday as Fatorda legislator Vijai Sardesai took strong objection alleging that the name of a minister’s son also figures in the acquired land and demanded that the matter be handed over to the Vigilance Department.
Sequeira said, “There is fear and anxiety in the minds of the land/plot owners who have been threatened by the Goa Housing Board (GHB) to acquire their land situated at Panzorconi, Cuncolim which they had purchased and built their dwelling houses legally and wanted to know the steps the government has taken in the matter.”
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In his reply, Housing Minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar said that the matter was sub judice and requested the MLA to withdraw the notice.
He stated that the government wants to resolve it.
The minister said that the land in question is not a disputed land but he wanted some time to resolve the matter, since the government is interested in resolving the matter. Please withdraw this.
Sequeira said that he already moved the calling attention notice and that he cannot withdraw it. However, he said that GHB is supposed to have acquired 1.5 lakh sq mtrs of land in property bearing Survey No 146/15 in Cuncolim.
“My submission is, if you have acquired this land by from 2005, you are filing cases against the party now,” he said.
The minister said, “Though the matter is sub judice, I request the MLA to withdraw the notice and assure him that the government will resolve it outside the House.”
The MLA refused to accept that the matter was sub judice and pointed out that the HC had dismissed the GHB’s petition last month.
He wanted the minister to make a statement since GHB had not acquired any land in Survey No. 146/15 at Panzorconi, and that the government will withdraw all cases filed against this plot owner.
“This is my only request and demand,” Sequeira said.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai joined the discussion and said that there is no public interest involved in the calling attention notice moved by the MLA. He also said that the notice is the property of the House and that it cannot be withdrawn.
Sardesai said that there is private interest involved in this notice and that he can prove it with documents.
He said that a person had filed a case that the land belongs to him and that the one filed by the GHB is wrong.
He said the matter is fixed for hearing on August 8. But before that, the MLA is moving a calling attention notice. The matter is settled in the House before the same is decided by the High Court. “The matter is related to 20,000 sq mts and I am sorry to state that the name of the Housing Board Minister’s son is mentioned in the property, he said.
Sardesai questioned: “Is this private interest or public interest and what are these calling attention notice? This issue requires vigilance inquiry,” he said placing all the documents on the table of the house. He charged that the ministers make MLAs to settle a dispute which is before the court.
Sequeira clarified that he has brought the notice because he was approached by Bright Developers who had purchased the land, developed plots and sold them to people, who purchased them and built houses in 2005. “If you are trying to ascribe motives, trust me, the minister has not asked me to table this notice at all,” he added.
Vijai said that Law Minister Nilesh Cabral should make a statement whether he would hand over the matter for vigilance inquiry.
The minister said since the matter is sub judice, he will abide by the court’s decision and that he was not interested in the property and was ready to face an inquiry to prove his innocence.
He urged the speaker to expunged the words uttered by Sardessai.
Sequeira too said that he will abide by the court’s decision.
