PANJIM, FEB 2
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Wednesday assured the House he will take up the issue of Indian Navy’s move to acquire Grande and Piqueno islands and Bimbvel beach, citing security reasons, with the Defence Minister, and if possible with the Prime Minister.
Castigating the Navy’s move to acquire the two off-shore islands and the beach as land grab, Kamat said the former (Navy) was making the State administration dance to its tunes for 2.5 acres of land for expansion of Dabolim airport.
The matter came up for a short debate on Wednesday afternoon when Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho, who earlier in the day led a protest morcha over the subject, in a calling attention motion placed the anxiety of the people over the acquisition of the islands, off the Vasco coast.
In his reply to the calling attention, Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza said the Government had not taken any decision to give the islands to the Navy. Instead, he said he will send a proposal to the Government for setting up an amusement park on the Grande Island.
Godinho, however, was not satisfied with Jose Philip’s reply and went on to point out to some anomalies in the same. Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar too stood up to support the deputy speaker on the issue and made a case for Navy’s shifting to Karwar naval base (Sea Bird).
Citing Jose Philip’s reply in the House Parrikar questioned how the deputy collector concerned had entertained this move. “There has to be a clear cut policy decision by the Government in this regard. If deputy collectors keep entertaining demands like this there will be no land for Goans”, he asserted. Assuaging fears raised over the acquisition of the islands, the CM said he agreed with the sentiments of both Parrikar and Godinho. “In fact when the file came to me I was surprised how the same had been moved. I asked the CS to look into the issue. The deputy collector may have probably acted since the demand was from the defence forces”, he told the House.
Kamat said he had made a categorical remark that opinion of the elected representative was important in this regard and sent the file back. As far as allotment of land and acquisition for Central agencies we will frame a policy because everyone has an eye on Goa, he stated.
The CM said he assures this House there was no question of acquiring any island. “Some defence officer had met the deputy collector and moved the file. Central agencies are sending requests for land on one pretext or the other, but we have not entertained such requests”, he mentioned and added, “‘Once land is given to central agencies, the experience of the state government has not been very good”.
He clearly stated the Navy had never approached the State government over the issue. They should give a presentation on why they need the islands, Kamat mentioned.
Godinho highlighted in the backdrop of the change in land acquisition policy at the Centre any land can be acquired directly. I want categorical assurances from the State Government that the island won’t be acquired. Parrikar too highlighted how the defence forces had stayed put at Panjim even after getting land at Bambolim.
The CM assured that he will take up the matter with the Defence Minister and if possible with the Prime Minister.
