PANAJI
The alleged dubious land deals in the Comunidade of Davorlim raised via a private member’s resolution by Navelim MLA, Ulhas Tuenkar will be probed by the Administrator of Comunidades and action will be taken if any truth is found in the allegations, Revenue Minister Atanasio Babush Monserrate told the Goa Legislative Assembly on Friday.
“Rest assured that after the inquiry, justice will be done and no one will be spared,” Monserrate said, urging the Navelim MLA to withdraw his resolution which the latter then did.
Earlier, Tuenkar while moving his resolution had alleged that the comunidade lands were transferred to builders using fraudulent means including forgery of documents to show TCP clearances.
The resolution was jointly moved by Tuenkar and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and the latter said if these irregularities were not thoroughly investigated and acted upon, then another massive scam and haphazard development like in the case of Serula Comunidade in Porvorim will crop up in Davorlim which shares a border with Margao.
“This was barren land not so long ago. The real estate value is high as the same rate as Margao is being quoted there. Many are eyeing the land,” Kamat said, and advised the Minister to take all the details and documents from Tuenkar and get them investigated by the department.
The resolution moved by Tuenkar and Kamat, however, had not made any reference to frauds and dubious land deals but called on the government to take immediate steps to “revive defunct Comunidades” in South Goa.
“Comunidades which have not had any meetings or do not have a functioning committee should be assigned to a designated administrative officer and the same should be revived immediately,” the resolution had said.
Tuenkar however withdrew the resolution after Monserrate assured that his department was actively preparing a plan to revive defunct Comunidades and mentioned the two bodies of Neturlim and Xelvona where there are no active Joneiros.
Monserrate said, the approach of the department and the Comunidade Administration is to look out for any existing Joneiros and/or admit new joneiros by a process.
Monserrate also said that 14 in South Goa and two in North Goa have been found to be defunct.
Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai, claimed that the issues raised by Tuenkar regarding illegalities and land grab in Davorlim Comunidade were brazen and officials were complicit. He also alleged that there is a kingpin involved and expressed uncertainty whether the administration will take any action as he was close to the dispensation.
The allegations of fraud and land grab in the Davorlim Comunidade jurisdiction was also seconded by Curtorim MLA, Aleixo Reginald Lourenco, who also made a plea to refer the matter to the SIT on land grab. Lourenco also urged the minister to follow the recommendations of the Comunidade Commission’s report prepared during the time when the late Francis D’Souza was the Revenue Minister.
Monserrate said, the plan to revive defunct Comunidades will take all stakeholders into confidence and follow the rule book.
