Addressing the media, NGRF President Sanjay Redkar said that GIDC has acquired comunidade land for small sums under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and it is being sold at a premium without being developed.
“We are aware that these plots were earlier a part of the 15 percent reserved for open spaces and these plots at Verna fall within water bodies. It has been observed that the government, while acquiring the land had assured that 80 percent jobs will be reserved for Goans,” Redkar said.
“Today there are hardly 10 percent Goans working in the industrial estates, especially at Verna, and the migrant population who availed of employment have put a burden on infrastructure, environment and health in the villages surrounding the industrial estates, destroying our land, identity and culture,” he added.
“We have also observed that vast lands available in Verna Industrial Estate, which were earlier allotted to SEZs, have been partly allotted by GIDC. This SEZ land, which is available, should be allotted to Goans and if the present notified plots are carved from open spaces then these plots should be cancelled,” he said.
NGRF demanded that the GIDC give these plots exclusively to Goan entrepreneurs, especially those whose lands have been taken by the corporation, through acquisition.
