The citizens of Vasco have urged the state government as well as local civic body, not to renew the lease of a priceless land admeasuring about 3964 sq mts located in ‘the heart of the city’, which could be used for greater public purpose.
Citizens claim the city of Vasco, which has population of over one lakh people, has no proper vegetable or fruit markets and these both markets are situated on the road. On the other hand this prime land surveyed under Chalta Nos 21, 22 and 23 of PT, sheet no 88 of city survey of Vasco city, which was earlier owned by MMC but was later transferred to the government and was leased out to a company named ‘V M Salgaocar Brothers Ltd’ some 30 years ago for construction of auditorium remained unutilised. If the same is reversed back to the original owner (MMC) then the land which is presently used for parking facility by a private company can be utilised for a better and larger public purpose.
“Our city desperately needs a good vegetable and fruit market facility with parking facility as the present markets are unhygienic and are located on the roads. Hence if this prime land which has high commercial value is reversed back to the MMC then tomorrow all such projects can come up at this prime land which is technically fit for such projects” said former MMC Chairperson Maneesh Arolkar.
He further added that “Also if we look at the lease terms then it is clearly mentioned that if auditorium is not built in three years period then the licence will be terminated. Today we don’t need auditorium as the Ravindra Bhavan project at Baina has become a reality and is also going overbooked, but the land which was given to the trust still remains unutilised. I feel that the government should not renew the lease further and should reverse the land to MMC,” Arolkar demanded.
Interestingly Vasco-based social activist Advocate Savio J F Correia who have been pursuing the matter with Government for the last four years and has been requesting reversion of the prime land granted to ‘Shree Dev Damodar Charitable Trust’ in public interest alleged that attempts are been made for extending the lease period to another 99 years when the current term ends on December 13, 2017.
“Since last four years I have been continuously following up the matter with the state government in public interest, but I regret to say that the careless and negligent manner in which it has been handled is shocking, to say the least. The file is notorious for going ( or being sent?) into long periods of hibernation as has happened on at least four occasions in its lifetime, probably orchestrated to create legal loopholes in the case so as to pass on the benefit to the concerned party” Correia said.
He further said that “On June 19, 2017, I wrote a letter to Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte explaining in brief about the case which is very important for the citizens of Vasco. Interestingly the issue also figured in the current Assembly session in Unstarred LAQ by Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco. Surprisingly to the LAQ question on ‘steps taken to revert the land in last five years, it has been replied that the department has issued show case notice on October 2014 to the trust and hearing is in progress. Whether government will take more time for completing the hearing or will act in public interest to reverse the land back to the Municipality is big question.
Meanwhile like the citizens, the Mormugao Municipal Council also wants that the government should reverse the unused land given to trust. MMC chairperson, Deepak Naik said that “Council has decided to move a proposal before the state government to take back its prime land located right in the heart of Vasco city but the land remained unutilised. No such construction came up till date and therefore, the government should not to renew the lease with the company when they come for renewal this year end,” Naik said.
He further claimed that “Ideally, as the same land has high commercial value, we may even think of starting some commercial project with the help of the government. This will not only strengthen the financial conditions of the council but would also make appropriate use of the land which has been leased out but remained unutilised till date.”
