SURAJ NANDREKAR
suraj@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Amarnath Naik of Tuem, thought he had knocked on the most powerful door in the land to save his 8600 square meters of land which was taken away by the State for the Chief Minister’s pet project, the Electronic City. He petitioned Governor Mridula Sinha, first in English and then also in Hindi, to save his land or at the very least, give him just compensation for his land and trees. Raj Bhavan merely passed it on to the Chief Secretary’s office. In desperation Naik took the RTI route, through his village panch, to find out what the Head of this State had done with his petitions. The response he got was that the final closure in whether the office of Governor of Goa falls under the purview of RTI is pending before the Supreme Court.
The land of this farmer from Virnoda has been illegally taken over by the State government for constructing the approach road for the Chief Minister’s dream project of Tuem Electronic City. He had petitioned the Governor on July 27, 2015. The letter had requested that the Governor intervene in the matter as Naik was losing his livelihood.
The letter pleaded before the Governor to direct the government to recall the tender and work order issued by the PWD for the approach road. The letter also asked for recalling of Forest Department NOC/value the trees properly.
“PWD must hand over the trees to my family or compensate us with market value of Rs 40 lakh as per valuation of Forest department. The PWD must acquire the land through proper process so that I can put my claim for compensation,” Naik said.
Since the Governor’s office failed to file a reply to the letter, Naik filed another petition, on August 19, 2015, this time in Hindi, seeking justice. However, there was no response to this too.
Thereafter, Tuem Panch Uday Mandrekar, who is helping Naik fight the case, filed an RTI to the Governor’s office wanting to know what action has been initiated on the two petitions filed by Naik.
However, the reply that came read, “It is informed that whether the Governor, is or is not a Public Authority under the Right to Information Act, 2005 and other related matters are presently pending consideration of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.”
“Hon’ble Supreme Court has been pleased to stay the effect and operation of the judgement and order dated 14/11/2011 of the hon’ble Bombay High Court, Bench of Goa in the subject matter.”
Further, it says, “Without prejudice to the above the letter has been transferred to the PIO, office of Chief Secretary.”
Speaking to Herald, Naik said, “If this is the reply I get from the Governor, the highest authority in State than what else can I expect. This attitude has been the main reason for farmers committing suicides in the country.”
Mandrekar said, “Just shedding crocodile tears on farmers’ suicide does not help. We will now also write to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office to seek justice.”
Adv Aires Rodrigues, who has gone to the High Court and Supreme Court on the matter of whether the Governor’s office comes under RTI or not, said, “This is the reply they give to everybody else.”
“Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, once upon a time wanted the Governor to come under RTI but now since the tables turned in 2012, his views have changed,” Rodrigues said. “When all other Raj Bhavan’s come under RTI why not Goa Raj Bhavan?” he asked.
