By: Savio Rodrigues
13th of the series of investigation
In the minutes of the meeting regarding Land Acquisition for expansion of Dabolim Airport (for parking) on 14th February at 11.00 am under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister in the chambers of the Chief Minister; it is important to note the stance taken on part of the Government of Goa in particular the Revenue Minister Jose Philip DeSouza and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mauvin Godinho, and in concurrence the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.
1. Bernard D’Costa mentions that though both his properties are designated as SETTLEMENT ZONE and that in spite of availability of sufficient space for parking as per OUTLINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN of Vasco, his properties are proposed for acquisition and notification under Section 4 and Section 6 along with order under Section 7 of the Land Acquisition Act 1894. Aggrieved by the above he pleaded de-notification under Section 48 of the Land Acquisition Act on the ground that he is going lose his property.
(Both Bernard D’Costa properties are under SETTLEMENT ZONE as claimed in his plea. It is surprising to note that in the Public Works Department (File Note) dated 06/11/2009 signed by the Assistant Engineer of PWD and Assistant Surveyor of Works which was prepared by Siddesh B Naik, field surveyor, Directorate of Settlement & Land Records, Panaji shows that the Survey No 8/1 is classified as Rocky Land and Survey No 9/1 is classified as Garden. As on today the status on Survey No 8/1 and Survey No 9/1 still show as Class B and Garden).
If throughout the entire process of acquisition conducted by the Government of Goa through PWD and Revenue Department with the sanction of the Chief Minister the land is not identified as SETTLEMENT ZONE; what changed at the 14/02/2011 meeting; because the land still does not show as SETTLEMENT ZONE in the Survey Report and neither has the New Regional Plan 2021 being notified for this region.
2. D Paul Manickam, AAI Director, Goa briefed the Chief Minister and stressed on the following point;
a. The land area is Survey No 8/1 and 9/1 are in public interest and are the only contiguously available areas for expansion of airport facilities and exercise was jointly carried out by AAI, PWD – Goa, Survey Department in and around airport and it was ascertained that only other vacant areas if either affected by right of way of National Highways/Railways or is the property of Ministry of Defence
b. The present land acquisition has already reached Section 7 stage and any deviation/deletion will entail a further long delay. In any case except Survey No 8/1 and 9/1 no other suitable land is available in the vicinity.
c. The present land acquisition is being acquired specifically as per the commitment given by the Government of Goa to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry in May 2006 for which AAI has already deposited Rs 4.25 crore.
The process of acquisition has reached Section 7 stage of the Land Acquisition Act; AAI has already deposited Rs 4.25 crore towards the land acquisition and the land under acquisition did not belong to the Ministry of Defence of affected by right of way of National Highway/Railways. It is highly questionable at this juncture as why the Chief Minister of Goa was still entertaining the pleas of Bernard D’Costa and dismissing the moot points of AAI Director, Goa. When AAI clearly had not initiated any letter or note stating that it would not like to acquire the said land.
3. Revenue Minister Jose Philip DeSouza and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mauvin Godinho pointed out just as Bernard D’Costa did that there is a vacant space of land around 70,000 sqmts available opposite the airport, meant for parking and they advised to acquire the same. Subsequently four days after the 14/02/2011 meeting details were provided by the above ministers and Bernard D’Costa through a letter issued by PK Pandita, Member Secretary of the Mormugao Planning & Development Authority (MPDA) dated on 08/02/2011 indicating the availability on land. However the letter itself show gross anomalies or inconsistency on behalf of MPDA and questions the very actions of the Jose Philip DeSouza, Mauvin Godinho and Digambar Kamat in this entire scam.
The land provided as alternate to Survey No 8/1 is in Chicalim bearing the Survey No 20 and Survey No 83 belong to the Ministry of Defence and Survey No 21 and Survey No 82 belonging to the Chicalim Communidade.
In the letter it states Survey No 20 & 21 (13500 approximately is set aside for parking) and Survey No 82 & 83 (35000 sqmts approximately has been set aside for parking).
The important question that arises in this entire exercise of showing availability of land as an alternate to the de-notified land is that the land does not belong to the Government of Goa but to the Ministry of Defence in the first case and secondly Communidade of Chicalim.
Did Chief Minister and Revenue Minister overlook this important fact in the cover-up of the de-notification and providing AAI with an alternative; it also brings into question the role of the MPDA and its OPD-2011 Vasco, in which it clearly shows that land belonging to Ministry of Defence is showing as parking area and this action has been Notified in the Official Gazette vide Series III No 45 dated 05/02/2009 as finally approved ODP-2011.
