PANJIM: After the former head of the Goa Police, ex-DGP Jaspal Singh was shunted out of the State following allegations of being involved in the Assagao land case, now the top boss of the civil services – the incumbent Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel –has been accused of purchasing a bungalow at Rs 2.3 crore on converted land at Aldona.
The specific allegation based on documents accessed by RTI activist Swapnesh Sherkelar is that this conversion specifically took place to facilitate the purchase of the same land by the Chief Secretary.
Incidentally, Goel is also the TCP Secretary who must have signed on that same land conversion, Sherlekar pointed out.
People of Goa are agitated as these allegations are coming out and have been demanding accountability and probity in actions of civil servants.
Meanwhile, politicians reacted strongly to the allegations against the top bureaucrat, who is supposed to be above board.
Capt Viriato Fernandes, South Goa MP said, “A field has been converted to a settlement zone. Where there was no house, a house has been built.”
He added, “The various changes in the Town and Country Planning Act were executed to facilitate such land conversions. Because politicians are doing illegalities, bureaucrats are not to be left behind.”
Guv has promised to look into
Chief Secy land issue: CONGRESS
A Congress delegation met the Goa Governor, P S Sreedharan Pillai on Thursday. GPCC President Amit Patkar said, “We told the governor that such officers who are involved in illegal conversion of land and paddy fields, no development zones, forest cover have to be dealt with strongly.” “Delhiwallas cannot come here and convert land using the tool prepared by the TCP Minister of 17(2), 39(A) and he is due to bring more amendments. Are these amendments for Delhiwalas to grab more lands in Goa?” Patkar questioned.
Patkar added, “The governor has promised to look into the matter.”
Pointing to the Caranzalem beach area and Reis Magos, from outside Raj Bhavan, Congressman Shriniwas Khalap said “that these huge buildings are coming up by “bursting through the stomach of Goa”.
“The BJP government has finished Goa in front of our eyes. Immediate action should be taken against the Chief Secretary. We have seen the documents. There is a sale of agricultural land, which he presides over and converts into settlement and then gives power of attorney to his son and purchases it" said Khalap.