VASCO
Vasco-based social activist Edwin Mascarenhas on Monday claimed that 5.78 lakh sq m of reclaimed land was owned by the government and not the MPT, adding that 96,000 sq m has been leased out by MPT to private players.
Mascarenhas filed an intervening application before the Dy Collector in an ongoing matter between Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), Captain of Ports (CoP), Inspector of Land Survey and the revenue department.
Stating that the State government should have appointed its lawyer and participated to challenge in the proceedings in the larger interest of the State, Mascarenhas told reporters that the MPT Chief Engineer had made an application in 2016 asking the Dy Collector to survey 5.78 lakh sq m of reclaimed land.
"The MPT has asked the Dy Collector to survey the reclaimed land and enter their name in Form D. This reclaimed land is a part of Zuari river and comes under Goa government as per Goa Land Revenue Code.”
“The MPT has reclaimed the land without any permission from the State government and has leased around 96,000 sq m of this reclaimed land to coal handling companies at MPT. How can MPT, which does not have a title to this land, lease it to a third party," asked Mascarenhas.
Mascarenhas said jurisdiction and ownership are two different subjects.
"The MPT has jurisdiction over a large area in Mormugao, but that does now mean the MPT is owner of that land. Jurisdiction is given only as a regulatory body for administrative purpose to maintain good governance or maintain good navigation in the channels and other administrative duties.”
“The State government should have appointed a lawyer and represented the issue in courts but they have not done it. I am forced to intervene, otherwise the Dy Collector may be compelled to give an order whatever he feels. I want to assist the court because I have some important documents obtained under RTI," said Mascarenhas.
He informed that an application was filed by one of the respondents to the Dy Collector in November 2019, requesting the Dy Collector to make the under secretary (revenue) a party to these proceedings.
“The Dy Collector issued a notice to the under secretary (revenue) to be a party to these proceedings. It is over a year now but the under secretary has not appointed any advocate to represent them in this matter.”
“As such, as a citizen of India and resident of Mormugao who is concerned about the interest of the people in this matter, I filed an intervening application in this matter. If I had not to do this, the precious land which belongs to Goa will be squandered away and given to MPT on a platter," said Mascarenhas.
