PANJIM: While Goa Vikas Party (GVP) MLA Caetano Silva alleged in the House that former Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao took a bribe to allow the Raheja project in Carmona, the BJP-led government on Thursday refused to revoke permissions granted to the mega project.
“They (Raheja International) have all the legal permissions with them. When someone has legal rights, how can government take action? It cannot revoke the permissions granted,” Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Town and Country Planning Francis D’Souza said.
He said the local panchayat has granted an NOC for the project and the locals have sold their properties to the company. “Government did not sell the land to Rahejas, locals sold it,” D’Souza said responding to the opposition from the locals to the project.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, intervening in the debate, said, “a Minister cannot do everything, he too has certain limitations.”
They were responding to the calling attention motion moved by Silva, who demanded that permissions granted to the project be revoked, as it has been approved against the wishes of people.
“Both (Digambar Kamat and Alemao) who are currently involved in Louis Berger scam have taken bribes to allow the project. Alemao took money,” he charged. The MLA said the technical permissions to the project are granted without considering the feasibility study. He said there is no proper road access and so also poor power and water connectivity.
The minister said the government is studying the apprehensions raised by the people and a decision will be taken shortly. “Government will focus on improvement of infrastructural facilities,” he said.
Rahejas have proposed a residential complex comprising 88 villas and a club house.
