PANAJI
He however stated that he had joined GHB on May 20, 2011. Speaking to media persons, Gomes said, “As per the media reports, on March 18, 2011, one Vincent Gracias along with others moved an application to the then GHB MD Gomes requesting to drop the land acquisition. On March 18, 2011, I was not the MD of GHB. Then it says that very hurriedly the chairman in that month itself called a meeting to drop the acquisition. At the time also I was not the MD. I had not even joined the GHB. So here is a case where the Board takes a decision to acquire a certain land, then may be the successor takes a decision to drop the proceedings. Both these decisions were taken in the absence of Elvis Gomes, who was not the MD during that particular period. So during the first stage of the whole incident wherein the decision was taken to acquire and decision was taken to drop I have absolutely no involvement.” Reacting to the allegation that the file pertaining to the decision was not even put up to the secretary, Gomes stated, “The allegation that it was not even put up to the secretary is completely false. There cannot be a situation where the file will go somewhere directly. I found out that this particular file has gone to the secretary, it is gone to the minister concerned who is the government and whatever decision has been taken has been conveyed back to the Board. So I don t know how an offence is made out against the MD.” “In this case not even section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act was issued which states the intention to acquire so the question of section 6 would not arise,” he said.
