PANJIM: Asserting that the IAS Sandip Jacques led inquiry committee on Tiracol Golf Course project has failed to come out with any “authentic” findings on the tenanted land issue, the State Government has now placed the findings before the Advocate General (AG) seeking his view on setting up of Judicial Inquiry Committee in the matter as recommended in the report.
Speaking to Herald, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Revenue Francis D’Souza said that the report submitted by Jacques has failed to put in the exact fact, as whether the land where the proposed project is planned, is tenanted or not.
“The report is not authentic. It has no clear findings, though to some extent it says that certain land is tenanted but there also he cannot certify it,” he said.
The minister said that Jacques, in the report, has mentioned that being not accorded with the power; he could not conduct personal hearings and also go into the legal aspects. “He has recommended that further study in the matter be conducted through retired Judge by appointing judicial committee,” he said.
“The report is submitted to Advocate General to decide on whether we should go for a judicial inquiry, as the report needs to be placed before High Court,” D’Souza added.
With locals challenging the Golf Course Project by M/s Leading Hotels Pvt Ltd before the High Court, the State government had, in September, last year constituted an inquiry committee to investigate whether the land acquired for the Tiracol golf course project comes under tenanted or agricultural land. The committee submitted its report in the first week of January.
“After a detail consideration of the report, it was decided to seek Advocate General’s view,” the minister said.
Over 9 lakh square kms of Tiracol village was acquired by developers Leading Hotels claiming that the original owners had said there were no tenants and mundkars residing on the land. However, villagers who say they have lived in the village for generations claim to be tenants, some even having their names on the Form I & XIV.
The situation was further complicated after several villagers gave up their rights to the land through the filing of a negative declaration. Some of the villagers have since revoked their declarations but have not received confirmation of ownership of land.
The matter is currently pending before the High Court.
