TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The public interest litigation filed by Franky Monteiro resident of Loutolim, and others challenging the allotment of plots under 20 point programme at Loutolim and Verna came up for admission before Bombay High Court on 24th January. The Attorney General informed the Court that the re-verification of applicants has been delayed due to the election process. The Court directed the Advocate General to file an affidavit on next date and took an assurance from AG that no allotments of the plots shall be done before filing of the said affidavit, according to a press release here.
The development and allotment of 541 plots of 100 sq mts each, under 20 point programme in an area of one lakh sq mts in Loutolim and Verna Industrial estate was the baby of the Power Minister to create captive vote banks under the garb of allotting the same to economically backward classes, claims the press release issued by Charles Fernandes, Convenor, SEZ Virodhi Manch.
The allotments were challenged by Franky Monterio and others bringing to the notice of the Court that the persons finalized in the list of allotments comprised several government servants and deceased persons besides many others who are working on cruise liners, gulf and also in business. The petition also pointed out that persons from same families for instance husband and wife, brother and sister, etc were also in the list finalized for allotments and sanads signed in their names, says the press release.
The Collector of South Goa had signed 333 sanads on 8th April 2011 and issued directions to the mamlatdar to collect the same and issue them in the presence of the Power Minister. The petition explained that out of 333 sanads signed by Collector, 329 persons were voters of Loutolim Constituency and all the affidavits sworn by the said 329 persons were endorsed by the local MLA, Aleixo Sequeira, the press release claims. All the 329 persons had sworn affidavits falsely stating that they were residing in premises belonging to their own parents on rental basis paying huge monthly rent to their parents. At least one affidavit stated that he and his family were residing in their own house on rental basis paying rent to themselves. This affidavit was also endorsed by the MLA, the press release issued by Fernandes Convenor of SEZ Virodhi Manch stated. The matter is now posted for 26th March after elections.
