PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday ordered the anti corruption bureau (ACB) to investigate the Old Goa land allegedly purchased by Congress MLA Pandurang Madkaikar, which the then BJP government had approved for construction of police station in 2004.
Replying to a question from Madkaikar himself if there was any new proposal for a police station for Old Goa, the Chief Minister said that land admeasuring 9,475 sq mtrs in Old Goa, belonging to one Anant Sinai Dhume, which was approved for construction of police station in 2004, was now found belonging to Madkaikar’s construction firm.
“I would like to place on record that Madkaikar during his tenure as Transport Minister had moved a proposal on August 5, 2004 for acquiring a land admeasuring 9,475 sq mtrs for construction of police station. Accordingly on August 13, I granted approval for the proposal and directed that land acquisition proceedings be started,” he said.
“Now, when I checked the details of the proposal and that land, the owner of the land is M/s Madkaikar Builders Pvt ltd. This is nothing but corruption, where proposed land for government project has been acquired by the legislator himself,” Parrikar said while responding to the question.
The Chief Minister said that the act was a clear cut misuse of land acquisition process for personal benefit.
“I am hence directing the ACB to investigate the matter,” he said.
Defending himself, Madkaikar said that the land was purchased by him as the town and country planning department had raised certain objection to the land acquisition for police station.
He said that he is ready to give back the land to the government by donating it alleging that “by announcing ACB investigation, the government is trying to shut my voice in the assembly.”
Madkaikar was supported by Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane, who said that it was the failure of the government on land acquisition matter and that the government had failed to take over the land in last 10 years, though it was approved in 2004.
Responding to this, Parrikar said, “My government at that time was thrown out in February 2005 and Congress took over.”
