Team Herald
PANJIM: Porvorim independent MLA Rohan Khaunte on Saturday alleged a major land scam at Mopa besides charging that the brother of a Union minister was involved in the beach cleaning scam.
Khaunte, who released his manifesto for Porvorim constituency, was critical of the BJP government’s functioning in the State. “While I feel Mopa is required, I am pained to know the acquisition of land and transfer to GMR has been done in a haphazard manner,” he said.
Stating that GMR is a debt-ridden company, he said, the government has not kept any share in the land. “The government should have kept at least 26 percent stake in the land and when we tried to question them in the Assembly it was postponed,” he stated.
He further said, “It has become a prestige issue for the BJP to defeat me in Porvorim and hence the brother of an influential central minister, who was involved in beach cleaning scam, is campaigning against me.” Questioned, he refused to elaborate saying, “I will take the issue up after the elections.”
Releasing his manifesto for Porvorim, Khaunte said that almost all promises made in 2012 have been completed or are on the verge of completion. “Many of works and promises are fulfilled and few are in the pipeline,” he said.
Giving highlights of manifesto, he said, “The priority is to make Porvorim a model town as it is mix of rural and urban area. A fire station and traffic police station is a must for Porvorim,” adding that proper management of parking is also a must. “We want a consultant to plan Porvorim as it should not go the Panjim way, which has outgrown itself,” he said.
Asked for reasons of going independent again, he replied, “I did so as per people’s wish.” On MoI, he said the choice should be left to the parents to decide what is best.
