Govt will acquire land and give to Mayekars, says CM
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The government will draft a new law that would be introduced in the next assembly session to try and resolve the Mayem evacuee issue, including its financial implications, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said Thursday even as he extorted Goans to be positive and think positive.
In his 52nd Liberation Day speech, the Chief Minister said that positive thinking brings confidence and therefore there is need for positive thinking always, arguing that this would also help the government to function.
Giving details of the Mayem issue later, the Chief Minister said that the government would acquire the land at Mayem and then give it to the Mayem residents.
“Most of the land in Mayem is in the name of the government,” he said, adding that the Form I and XIV has the name of the government.
“Some people claim that they own the land… I am not going on that. But that land which is with the government, we will acquire it by a law,” he said explaining further, “I am doing this because some people may fight cases against those who get the land if we just give it … I am clearing the title.”
Stating that a law will have to be passed in Assembly and financial backup will have to be made, he said that after this the “Land will become clear-titled government land. They will not have to fight cases. If anybody has a claim, then he has to fight with the government.”
He told media that after that if any claimant wants to settle, the government has to settle it, and it can be settled through the legal framework.
He also spoke on the Services Guarantee Act, saying that they would be starting it by January 2014.
The Chief Minister said that when his government came to power in 2012, the State was heavily burdened by accumulated debt and in addition it had to deal with current liability of Rs 1500 crore. But despite this, his government introduced a number of welfare measures.
He touched on the preparation of Lusofonia Games infrastructure that will be later used for the National Games. He said the infrastructure costs Rs 250 crore with the Peddem ground, Mapusa, Bambolim, Goa University, Fatorda, Tilak Maidan, Vasco and similar grounds at five places being prepared for practice purpose. “These facilities will also be utilized for 2015-16 National games and International games in 2017,” he said.
The government has so far granted benefits under DSSS to 1.20 lakh persons, under Ladli Laxmi to 12,000, while 90,000 people benefited under the Grih Adar Scheme and 9000 people got financial aid as mining dependents this year, he said.
The Chief Minister said that Calvim-Aldona bridge has been opened while Velsao-Dando and Gaundali-Kumbarjua bridges were nearing completion. “Keri-Tirakol, Tuyem-Kamurli, Amona-Vidri, Chodan-Salvador do Mundo, Betim-Panjim, Rashol-Shiroda bridges will soon be a reality and the Valpoi Kadamba bus stand is complete while construction of bus stands at Marcela and Pernem is in progress,” he said.
He also pointed that the Vasco-Baina and Sankhali Ravindra bhavans were inaugurated; the work of Sankhwal Ravindara bhavan is in progress and it was proposed to set up Ravindra bhavans in Canacona and Mapusa.
He said that the government had initiated steps to fill up the existing vacancies in the police force and that it is paying special attention to the improvement of infrastructure in the primary health centres and government hospitals with hospitals at Sankhali, Ponda, Valpoi and Bicholim being completed and the construction of the district hospital at Margao in progress.
The function was followed by a cultural programme by students of various schools organised by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs.
The chief minister unfurled the national flag and reviewed the parade and took salute from the contingents of Police, Home Guards, Fire Brigade personnel, NCC and school students. He also presented awards to those who have excelled in different fields and honoured 19 freedom fighters, 9 of whom are living. Police Home Guards and Fire services personnel were also presented the Chief Minister’s Gold Medal.
Also present were Speaker Rajendra Arlekar, Cooperation Minster Pandurang Deepak Dhavlikar, Environment Minister Alina Saldanha, Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane, and officials.
