MARGAO: Angelo Araujo is a worried man. He is amongst the 64 investors whose investments in Ruby Residency project at Canacona are at stake with the builders still at large and there’s no sign of the government intervening to secure their interests.
The investors have now made an impassioned plea to Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar to intervene in the matter and protect their hard earned money. “I had invested my entire life savings in the flat in Ruby Residency built by Ms Bharat Developers. I had paid Rs 31 lakh to the builder. Like me, 36 other Goan NRI had invested in the building before it came crashing down on January 4,” Araujo told the media in the presence of Congress Legislative Party spokesman Reginaldo Lourenco.
Another investor, Punit Mehta echoed similar sentiments. He and other beleaguered investors have called for the attachment of the properties of the builders and settle their claims.
Araujo said the builders have been absconding since the day of the building collapse and wondered how the investors will be compensated without their arrest. “We are passing through mental trauma. We appeal to the government to intervene and protect our interests. The government should arrest the builders and attach the properties and settle our claim”, he said, adding that some of the investors have handed the money to the builders without taking receipts.
Reginaldo Lourenco slammed the government on the issue, demanding to know how the investors will be compensated when the government is yet to arrest the builders. “The government should immediately step in and protect the interest of the investors”, he demanded, while further demanding that the government display the same zeal and enthusiasm in the Canacona case as was in the Tarun Tejpal case.
