The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) national spokes person, Trajano D’Mel lo, on Tuesday accused Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte of being alleg edly involved in the ille gal seizure of prime land belonging to the Comuni dade of Serula. The plot in question, measuring 6,200 square metres, is located in Survey No 179/1 in the village of Penha de Franca.
The charge was made by the Gauncars (sharehold ers) of the Comunidade of Serula, who have submitted ted documentary evidence to the Governor, Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Under Secretary (Reve nue), North Goa Collector, Administrator of Comuni dades, North one, and the Attorney for the Comuni dade of Serula. Trajano alleged that the land was grabbed in collusion with the Administrator of Comunidades North Goa, Pandurang Gad, under the name of the Porvorim Yuva Wel fare Trust, a body headed by Khaunte.
According to the Code of Comunidades, details of vacant plots are supposed to be publicly displayed in January every year, both on the Administrator's notice board and in the Official Gazette, after which they are auctioned. However, in this case, the plot was only listed on October 23, 2024, in what Trajano claims was a coordinated effort be tween Khaunte and the Administrator.
In light of these allegations, Trajano demanded the im mediate sacking of the Administrator of Comunidades North Goa and the removal of Khaunte from the Cabinet. He also called for a thorough investigation into the land grab. He pointed out that the application for the land was made on October 23, 2024, with no other applicants for the plot.
The stated purpose was for institutional and com mercial development, but Trajano claimed that the ‘fraud’ was further exposed when documents (Form I & XIV) for a different plot, Survey No 179/0, were allegedly attached to the application for Survey No 179/1. Additionally, the Trust deed was found to be incomplete, further raising doubts about the legitimacy of the transaction.
AITC Goa convenor Mariano Rodrigues, who was present at the press conference, also criticised the government for its handling of land in other areas. He accused the author ities of giving away large tracts of land at Sancoale to the Zuari industry, which he said had resulted in the devasta tion of half of the Cortalim constituency.