MARGAO
Shifting of Margao-based schools to the city outskirts in Davorlim village in a bid to decongest the commercial capital was never explicitly made clear in the land acquisition proposal when the land was sought to be acquired for a multi-purpose utility project around eight years ago during the Digambar Kamat-led Congress government.
Former South Goa district Collector, G P Naik's brief note dated November 9, 2009, which had set in motion the process to acquire land admeasuring 1,15,200 square meters located in survey no 16/1, which as accessed by The Goan, only speaks of a long standing desire to have a multi-purpose utility project in the city, without unveiling the nature of projects.
The Collector's brief note stated that the multi-purpose utility project would cater to the needs of all the inter-linked as well as independent projects for the overall development of the society, wherein the needs of the individuals from educational, social and cultural aspects are catered.
"Development should always remain as the central focal point of any government in a welfare state. All round development should be the focus on making the maximum facilities available to the common layman within their minimum affords. So also, it should ensure systematized and planned progress of the entire society in economics, political, social, cultural and educational spectrum. However, mere policy and desires cannot suffice to achieve the goal of development. Systematized planning and actual action needs to be taken in the desired direction to accomplish the task of developmental objectives", Naik stated in his note, further stating that the Communidade land in Davorlim would be most ideal for the project.
What's significant to note is that while the former district Collector made a strong pitch of for the acquisition of land available at Davorlim, G P Naik had warned that if the land is not acquired by the government for some purpose then there is every possibility of encroachments on the land by miscreants.
"It is opined that the Communidade land in Davorlim village would be ideal for the project. The adequate land parcel belonging to the Communidade may be taken up for acquisition. However, the area that is acquired by the Goa Housing Board and portion of land granted to individuals from the total area may be excluded from the acquisition", the then Collector stated in his brief note.
Incidentally, when the multi-utility project was placed in public domain, neither the authorities nor the government had come clear to unveil the nature of projects that would come up on the land once acquired. So much so, Davorlim villagers, who had started opposing the land acquisition on grounds that the land in question had been reserved for the original inhabitants of the village for the purpose of housing, had initially suspected that the portion of the land, once acquired, will be used for the Kabrastan.
Documents revealed that it was only after the authorities capped the land acquisition proceedings around 2010 that it became apparent that the land may be allotted to existing Margao-based schools, besides social and cultural organisations.
Shifting of Margao-based schools to the city outskirts in Davorlim village in a bid to decongest the commercial capital was never explicitly made clear in the land acquisition proposal when the land was sought to be acquired for a multi-purpose utility project around eight years ago during the Digambar Kamat-led Congress government.
Former South Goa district Collector, G P Naik's brief note dated November 9, 2009, which had set in motion the process to acquire land admeasuring 1,15,200 square meters located in survey no 16/1, which as accessed by The Goan, only speaks of a long standing desire to have a multi-purpose utility project in the city, without unveiling the nature of projects.
The Collector's brief note stated that the multi-purpose utility project would cater to the needs of all the inter-linked as well as independent projects for the overall development of the society, wherein the needs of the individuals from educational, social and cultural aspects are catered.
"Development should always remain as the central focal point of any government in a welfare state. All round development should be the focus on making the maximum facilities available to the common layman within their minimum affords. So also, it should ensure systematized and planned progress of the entire society in economics, political, social, cultural and educational spectrum. However, mere policy and desires cannot suffice to achieve the goal of development. Systematized planning and actual action needs to be taken in the desired direction to accomplish the task of developmental objectives", Naik stated in his note, further stating that the Communidade land in Davorlim would be most ideal for the project.
What's significant to note is that while the former district Collector made a strong pitch of for the acquisition of land available at Davorlim, G P Naik had warned that if the land is not acquired by the government for some purpose then there is every possibility of encroachments on the land by miscreants.
"It is opined that the Communidade land in Davorlim village would be ideal for the project. The adequate land parcel belonging to the Communidade may be taken up for acquisition. However, the area that is acquired by the Goa Housing Board and portion of land granted to individuals from the total area may be excluded from the acquisition", the then Collector stated in his brief note.
Incidentally, when the multi-utility project was placed in public domain, neither the authorities nor the government had come clear to unveil the nature of projects that would come up on the land once acquired. So much so, Davorlim villagers, who had started opposing the land acquisition on grounds that the land in question had been reserved for the original inhabitants of the village for the purpose of housing, had initially suspected that the portion of the land, once acquired, will be used for the Kabrastan.
Documents revealed that it was only after the authorities capped the land acquisition proceedings around 2010 that it became apparent that the land may be allotted to existing Margao-based schools, besides social and cultural organisations.
