MARGAO: Goans for Dabolim Only (GFDO) on Sunday warned developers visiting Goa for the Mopa Airport pre-bid meeting that it would be solely at their risk and responsibility if they commit or invest on the basis of arbitrary or illegal offers or promises by the politicians or the governments they represent.
GFDO convenor Fr Eremito Rebello said that the public at large, which is the “sovereign” in India, reserve their right to get such arbitrary or illegal acts struck down through the process of judicial review. He said the public or its trustee “the government” will not be liable for any compensation for any arbitrary or illegal act of the corrupt politicians.
He said that the people of Goa are aware that the proposed cost of the airport is only Rs 3000 crore, while the cost of the non-aviation real estate would be to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore, adding that Mopa is less of an airport and more of a real estate project akin to SEZs, which were banished from Goa years ago. “The government had acquired 84 lakh sq m Mopa land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for aviation end-use. The Government has disclosed in the RFQ that it will allot 15.4 lakh sq-m of this land for non-aviation purposes at an FAR of 400% against the current allowable FAR of 60% as per TCP Act”, he said.
Fr Rebello said that Goans can easily read the designs of corrupt politicians, who are trying to perpetrate a Real Estate scam in the garb of an Airport. “The developers participating in the RFQ also must realize this anti-people, anti-environment, illegal plan of Goa’s corrupt politicians. In the past, many Real Estate scams in the guise of SEZs have been defeated by alert Goans.
After the SEZs having been declared illegal by the Courts, the promoters are pleading for compensation against their investments. The businessmen must know that “doing business” is a mere “privilege” and the “protection from arbitrary acts of the politicians” is a “right of the people” enshrined in the Constitution of India”, Fr Eremito asserted.
Privilege cannot override right
Fr Rebello warned that the developers participating in the RFQ must realise Mpoa is an anti-people, anti-environment, illegal plan of corrupt politicians; they must know that ‘doing business’ is a mere ‘privilege’, but “protection from arbitrary acts of the politicians” is a “right of the people” enshrined in the Constitution of India
