MARGAO: Comba ward Councillor Ketan Kurtarkar has objected to converting 7707 sq mts of agriculture land into settlement zone for rehabilitating people affected by the construction of Comba-Margao ring road.
According to Kurtarkar, the initial proposal for acquisition of land for rehabilitation was only 1048 sq.mts, which was later enhanced to 3747 sqmts.
However, he said, in the Outline Development Plan (ODP) 2026 for Margao, 7707 sq mts of agriculture land is shown as settlement zone for rehabilitation of people affected by the construction of the ring road. “So, how did to 3747 sq mts become 7707 sq mts and when?” Kurtarkar has asked.
“This smells of a scam in the name of rehabilitation. As per the report of PWD, the area allotted for rehabilitation consists of 16 plots of 60 sq mts each for 16 houses and 2 kiosks, which is within 1040 sq mts & should be considered speedily. But, now it appears that a whopping area is reserved to accommodate migrants, to use them as vote bank during forthcoming elections, at the behest of local politician as there is no other rehabilitation involved as per PWD report,” Kurtarkar alleged.
The councillor said that he has absolutely no objection to rehabilitate 16 houses and 2 kiosks in an area of 1040 sq mts as approved by the authorities. “But, I object to earmarking 7707 sq .mts of land on ODP, for so called, future developments,” he added.
