Says acquisition is now complete for airport
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar declared that land acquisition for Mopa airport is complete and a total area of 81 lakh sq metres has been acquired.
While the previous government acquired approximately 48 lakh sq metres, Parrikar said Wednesday that when his government took over in 2012 an area of 27.62 lakh square meters was acquired.
The chief minister said that if there were any disputes as far as compensation was concerned the same should be referred to the Land Acquisition Officer who is the statutory officer to deal with such matters.
Parrikar was replying to queries in the Goa Assembly when he was grilled by Independent Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai.
Sardesai tried to raise a point on compensation disputes, however Parrikar said that land acquisition and compensation to land losers were two different issues.
Parrikar clarified that wherever there were disputes the deputy collector concerned is in possession of the compensation amounts while all other applications for compensation have been cleared.
He refuted allegations of any fraud in case of disbursement of compensation and refused to accept media reports produced by Sardesai in the House on this issue.
He also said that the central government bill for land acquisition has not yet been consented or effected and will take another two months as stated by Jairam Ramesh. Hence, provisions under the new central bill were not in force and could not be applied here in Goa, he said.
Sardesai said that land acquisition for Mopa airport was done in a haste to which Parrikar said that part of the land was acquired by the previous government and his government acquired the remaining part that was required.
He did not comment further when Sardesai said that the Environment Impact Assessment for land acquisition was not yet done. Sardesai also sought to know why the government has not yet floated global tenders for this purpose and recalled CM’s statement of keeping the Mopa airport project on hold. He
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accused the government of divesting farmers of their land and acquiring land for the purpose of private developers.
In another issue raised by Quepem MLA Chndrakant Kavalekar, Revenue Minister Francis D’Souza said that the government will investigate into cases of encroachment on government land by Kumeri cultivators only after which it would take up the matter of regularisation.
He said that due process was being followed and 144 sanads had been issued so far.
Parrikar also told Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte that he would consult with the High Court on its proposed new complex at Betim and would ensure that dwelling houses near the complex site would not be displaced after taking security issues into consideration.
He was also informed that power problems affecting the State due to incessant rainfall are being sorted out.
If there are any disputes as far as compensation is concerned, the same should be referred to the Land Acquisition Officer who is the statutory officer to deal with such matters
— Manohar Parrikar
