Former Chief Minister and ex-Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar, who initiated this project, points out that the land in question was reverted back to the government 40 years ago and the only error was that there no changes were made in Form I and XIV.
“I am sympathetic to the issues of the farmers and land-losers but there was very little we could do. We were looking for land for ESDM and found government land in Tuem,” he says.
Parsekar added that he was informed by the then collector, that the land in Tuem had been reverted back to the government in 1970 after serving notices.
“I wanted to compensate the farmers but the question was how? When the land is with the government, to who and why will the government compensate. There was no ground really,” said Parsekar, while adding “I told them to challenge in the court and that only then something could be done but they did not”.
Despite this, he continued, “I had decided that the government will help the land- losers or farmers, as and when the project comes up, by giving them jobs and businesses like canteens etc.”
Parsekar added that he wanted the project in his constituency as it would benefit the youth and also the locals.
Parsekar said that despite the odds, he was happy that land, which was worth not less than Rs 300 cr, is now in possession with the government.
“If you consider the rate paid to Subhash Shirodkar in Shiroda, I would consider this 5.7 lakh land to be worth Rs 300 cr,” he said.
But sadly, Parsekar rues the fact that for the last two and half years, the project has not progressed in the desired way.
“I would say not an inch has moved. The project would bring in big investments to Goa and also employment which could give a boost to the economy,” he says.
