Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government has washed its hands of action against Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited (ZACL), which is accused of illegally selling off of nearly 50 lakh sq mts of land that was purchased from the Sancoale communidade for industrial purposes, back in 1971. The government
has decided not to interfere in the matter, following legal opinion.
Revenue Minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate said that as per the legal opinion sought from the senior counsel, the State cannot act in the matter as sale deeds and land ownership have been obtained through various courts.
“The act by ZACL was with backing from the previous government,” the minister said refusing to elaborate as to which
party-led government he was referring to.
Monserrate said that he will place the detailed report on the Floor of the House during the next State Assembly session. “If any MLA has any doubt, they can challenge it before the court,” he said.
“You can’t blame the people if they feel suspicious about the precise timing with which the Rs 50,000 crore Zuari land scam has been laid to rest by the State government because it comes immediately after ‘Operation Purchase Congress MLAs’ has been laid to rest. Do defections come free?” asked Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, who had brought up the issue during the monsoon session of the State Assembly.
Bowing to pressure from the Opposition, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had assured to keep the sale deeds and sanads pertaining to the said land, on hold until legal opinion is received. He had even assured to hand over the matter to Special Investigating Team (SIT), if needed.
