Landlocked: Decisions in vested interest have left Goa govt with no land for airport parking
2011: The Kamat government takes land for airport parking and gives it back to a private individual
Digambar Kamat fully backed by Jose Philip (Revenue Minister ) and Mauvin Godinho (then Dy Speaker and local MLA) to de-notify and give back 36,000 sq metres it had acquired for parking and hand it back to the owner Bernard Costa.
Forget the false claim of having alternate land of 70,000 square metres, Goa govt doesn’t even have 1 sq metre to give to AAI for parking
Kamat government de-notified about 36,800 sq. mtrs of land originally earmarked for parking, in a baffling decision. The family of Bernard Costa was given the land back by the government under the de-notification, on their request for ‘family use’, stating that the de-notified land (Survey No. 8/1) actually belonged to it.
AAI had paid Goa govt Rs 4.25 crore for de-notified land which has still not been returned.
A decade later, the commercialisation of the space with the building lobby taking over is proof of what the real intentions were.
AAI clearly said: No other suitable land is available in the vicinity
A high-level meeting chaired by then CM Digambar Kamat on November 2 2011, with all state holders and parties including the Airports Authority of India. The AAI had clearly stated that that except for survey no 8/1 and 9/1 no other suitable land is available in the vicinity.
In a letter on July 14 2014 the airport authority of India had requested the Government of Goa on why Survey 8/1, (Costas land) was the only available contiguous land where they can use it for various purposes like fuel farm, cargo backup, and parking.
70,000 sq mtr available, said, Revenue Minister (Jose Philip D Souza and Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho (in Congress then)
Crucially, the minutes of the November 2, 2011 meeting states, “It was pointed out by the Minister (Revenue) and deputy speaker that there is a vacant space of land around 70,000 sq metres available opposite the airport meant for parking and they advised to acquire the same.”
—THIS WAS A PROMISE MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT. AFTER 10 YEARS IT CAN ONLY BE THRE GOVERNMENT THAT HAS TO MAKE GOOD THIS PROMISE
—But this was never feasible. A senior AAI official pointed out “That was done to justify taking back the land that was marked for airport parking for commercial interests. This 70,000 sq mtrs in Shantinagar and full of slums. Can anyone clear them for parking? This was just a diversionary tactic.”
Dispute over 30,000 sq mtrs of land (Survey no 84) behind Naval Residential Area already decided in Navy’s favour
There is another land parcel of about 30,000 sq metres (Survey no 84) behind the Naval Officers Residential Area (NOFRA) near the Railway track. This land is under dispute with the Navy clearly stating that this land belongs to them, but the Communidade objected to it. The Navy took this to the Land tribunal and won the dispute in its favour.
With a new terminal building, an Rs 200 crore project just inaugurated, the Civil Aviation Minister will naturally want to be satisfied that there is equitable infrastructure available. Ina recent review of all such projects contentious issues was red-flagged. The no availability of parking in Goa was a subject matter of concern. However, it doesn’t quite appear that the state government is in a hurry. Nor does it have any worry.