Team Herald
PANJIM: Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) councillor Nelson Cabral has strongly objected to the sale/purchase of 11,000 square metres of land at Dona Paula, stating that two former governors had written to the State government to prohibit any work along the roadside leading to Raj Bhavan.
Cabral said that a Public Notice has been published in a newspaper calling objections, if any from whomsoever regarding the purchase/development of the area, which forms part of a larger property surveyed in the name of Agarwal Minerals Pvt ltd with Narain Hari Naik as its tenant a per the survey records maintained by the City Survey of Panjim.
According to Cabral, the availability of the mandatory NOC under Section 49 (6) of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1974 and also the width and the length of the said plot, which abuts the road leading from Dona Paula to Raj Bhavan, has not been mentioned.
Cabral stated that in 1994, two former Governors B Rachaiah and Gopala Ramanujam had written to the Chief Secretary, to prohibit any development works in the green areas along the road side and to prevent any construction works mushrooming there. Accordingly, the Forest Department had developed a part thereof into a garden pursuant to which it had been reflected in Outline Development Plans (ODPs) for 2011, 2021 and 2028.
Cabral said that in response to his letter dated April 29, 2024, the Additional Secretary to Governor Sanjeev C Gauns Dessai had forwarded it to the Directorate of Public Grievances and that an inquiry into his representation is in progress.
The La Marvel Residents’ Welfare Association and the NIO scientists and staff have also requested the government to keep the area open and free from any development works.
