TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has literally exonerated all those lease holders who were indicted under the deemed leases charge saying that most of the lease holders had filed their applications for second renewal one year before the expiry of the period of lease as required in terms of the rules. In a statement in the assembly, which was given to all MLAs for their perusal, he outlined the plan of action for lease execution, the options before him and the government’s compulsions following the High Court order. Attributing the delay in renewing the leases to the previous government headed by Pratapsing Rane and Digambar Kamat, Parrikar said that the non-disposal by the then state government cannot be attributed to be the fault of the lease holders. According to Parrikar, the judgment of the High Court that directed the government to execute the 27 lease deeds and decide the pending applications in accordance with the law “is an intervening factor”. The judgment and the order of the High Court leaves virtually no choice to the government but to completely abandon the process of competitive bidding for earning the best revenue to the state government.
However, the government said that it has commenced an inquiry and investigation into violations under Rule 37 and 38 of MCR rules, and will impose fines and cancel, revoke or reject deeds of those found guilty
