Fr Eremito Rebelo asks District Collector to stay constructions on Survey No 8/1 at Dabolim
TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Apparently gearing up to launch a sustained battle on the de-notification of the parking land at Dabolim, the Goans for Dabolim Only on Wednesday urged South Goa district Collector to forthwith stop all construction activities in Survey No 8/1 of Dabolim village, cancel all conversion sanads issued for the land in question and to recommence the acquisition proceedings for the airport parking land without any delay.
In a memorandum to the District Collector, GFDO said that public interest has been subverted in this instance, with absolutely grave implications to Dabolim airport and Goa’s economy. “The ongoing construction activities on land that is absolutely vital for airport use and for the Goan economy need to be immediately stayed, and the land handed over to AAI at the very earliest,” GFDO Convenor Fr Eremito Rebelo demanded.
He drew attention of the District Collector to the State government’s assurance during a meeting held on May 12, 2006, to make available land for city side airport infrastructure (parking, office buildings, warehouses, etc). “Based on this assurance, the Central government’s Airport Authority of India (AAI) invested a massive Rs 600 crore towards the construction of a new terminal and apron, as part of the on-going expansion of Goa airport at Dabolim,” he said.
“In keeping with its commitment, the State government initiated land acquisition proceedings, and notifications under section 4 & 6 of land acquisition act were issued in 2009 and 2010. However, at a meeting called by the then Chief Minister on 14/2/2011 to discuss this acquisition, it was submitted that vacant land admeasuring 70,000 sq mts was available opposite the airport. On the basis of this submission, and consequent directions issued to you and others to expedite the acquisition of this alternate land, it was decided to de-notify a major portion of the land then under acquisition, namely 36,800 sq mts of land bearing Survey No 8/1, Dabolim village,” he added.
Fr Rebelo expressed shock that although two years have passed since the directions were issued to acquire the alternate land, the state administration is yet to identify the same. “The absurdity of the failure to find such a big parcel of vacant land opposite the airport can only mean that no such vacant land exists. In these circumstances, you will surely appreciate that the land bearing Survey No. 8/1, Dabolim village, is the only land available for city side airport infrastructure (office buildings, parking, warehouses etc), and that this land will have to be handed over to AAI at the very earliest. Further, since the assumption that an alternate vacant plot of land exists is now clearly proved to be false, the de-notification of the acquisition of Survey No 8/1 has no legal or factual grounds. Land records available in public domain reveal that the land opposite the airport belongs to the Ministry of Defence, and that no land suitable for airport use exists, except the de-notified land. From the documents perused by us, it seems that fraud and misrepresentation have been intentionally used to benefit greedy, unscrupulous builders, and/or to deprive Goa airport of its genuine and critical infrastructure, thereby threatening Goa’s future economic growth,” Fr Rebelo asserted.
He said the government continues its “search” for the non-existent 70,000 sq mts of alternate land, while private builders are seen constructing private buildings on the land bearing Survey No 8/1 in a tearing hurry. “It is incomprehensible how the State administration could permit absolutely essential land needed for Dabolim Airport’s vital expansion to fall into the hands of commercial builders. Furthermore, it is surprising that you granted conversion sanad(s) for the said land even before promulgating Section 4 for the alternate land required for city side airport infrastructure. As long as the pre-condition (acquisition of alternate land) for the de-notification of Survey No 8/1 was not fulfilled, you were duty-bound to refrain from granting conversion sanads. These improper permissions for conversion have allowed the constructions to commence on Survey No 8/1. It is obvious that unless the ongoing constructions, which are still at an early stage, are stopped (they will soon be completed and third party rights created) this land so vital for public use will be lost,” he added.
