TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: Canacona MLA and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar has ruled out the possibility of any government compensation to the scores of people who had invested heavily in Phase III of Ruby Residency, stating that the compensation is an issue solely between investors and the builders.
“It is obligatory on the part of builders to compensate investors. Forget about the investors in the collapsed building, there is no way that any investor would want to take possession of even a single flat in the buildings which have been declared unsafe. So, it is for the builder to decide how to compensate all these investors and the government has no role to play in this matter,” replied Tawadkar, when asked if the government would provide any compensation to the investors, since most of them had obtained large loans to pay the builder.
To another query on steps initiated by the government to avoid such a tragedy in future, Tawadkar said: “The government is doing every thing possible within its reach, so that such incidents don’t again. Officers are being taken to task for their negligence and corrupt practices in fraudulently clearing such projects. But it is also the duty of public to alert the government of any illegalities in their area.”
Asked to justify the government’s failure to demolish the buildings which it had declared unsafe, Tawadkar replied: “It was later felt that the demolitions of these endangered buildings were not necessary. But now, the builder has petitioned in the High Court to prevent the government from going ahead with the demolitions. Let the court decide now, but tell me, who would want to take possession of any flats in those buildings, one of which is already tilted on one side?”
Tawadkar, however felt that while the builders and other officials are on the run, they could never evade justice.
“Action will be taken on those culprits responsible for negligence, illegalities and corruption that led to the tragedy, no matter how delayed it will be. How long do you think these officers and the builders responsible for the tragedy will escape the law of the land? They can only delay their arrest, but they cannot escape from justice,” said Tawadkar.
