TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: It is not only the mega real-estate firms from outside the state who are eyeing land in Goa, but several central government agencies from defence forces, education institutions and public undertakings have applied to the Goa government for allotment of meagre government land for putting up headquarters, institutions and guest houses in the State, which is fighting to keep its identity and culture amid this large-scale assault.
As many as 35 applications have been received during the last three years, according to a reply given in the Goa Assembly last week by the revenue department. While 18 applications are before the North Collectorate, 17 applications are before the South Collectorate.
A rough estimate of 500 acres and more is under consideration by the State government in view of applications made by central government agencies and undertakings seeking to set up their establishments here in Goa. According to the reply, some of the agencies include the Border Security, New Delhi seeking 85 acres of land for setting up of its battalion headquarters, the Central Industrial Security Force seeks 85 acres to establish a CISF battalion, Station headquarters, Panjim wants 200-250 acres.
Further the World Homeopathic Development Organisation (WHDO) has applied for 10 acres for setting up of world-level polytechnic hospital. Also in the list is a proposal from the Central Bureau of Investigation (Anti Corruption Branch) for 4000 sq meters for setting up of CBI office which is also under process.
Bharat Petroleum has applied for 1000 sq meters for construction of a guest house, Western India Automobile Associates want 11.5 acres for setting up state of the art safety institute.
The Director (Navy-II) Ministry of Defence has applied for 150 acres for establishment of Indian Coast Guard Academy while the Constitutional Club of India has applied for 25 acres for construction of a Technical Institute.
A proposal which is being actively considered is the one from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for 2 acres for setting up IGNOU University, while the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, has applied for 5000 acres for a ship building yard.
A highly placed official in the revenue department said, “The land applied for by central agencies is quite a lot for the small State of Goa.”
The government has stated it has also turned down some of the requests specifying clearly that there is no land available.
