KISHOR NAIK GAONKAR
PANAJI
The government's decision to lease out 1.89 lakh sq. mtrs of land at Dhargal-Pernem to the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) for the proposed international cricket stadium has been questioned by a former GCA secretary, at a time when the GCA is embroiled in irregularities and is being investigated by Economic Offences Cell (EOC) and Enforcement Directorate.
"How can the government do business with GCA, which has been defamed due to scams and is being investigated by the Economic Offences Cell (EOC) and ED," asked former GCA Secretary Shirish Naik, while speaking to The Goan.
Alleging that GCA had misused the funds received from BCCI and the misdeeds were revealed during an audit by the BCCI, Naik added: "BCCI has vast amounts of money and can easily buy land in any part of the country. So, why is the state government keen to lease land for a sports city for a meagre amount?"
He claimed that if the EDC could build a convention centre, what stopped the sports department from building a cricket stadium.
"The state surely needs an international cricket stadium, but why is the government keen to hand over land to the GCA, which is involved in financial scams and has lost public trust," asked Naik.
Naik also claimed that every person holding the post of GCA president had been keen to have the international cricket stadium in his locality.
"During the tenure of former GCA president Dayanand Narvekar, the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs had acquired 1,30,328 sq mtrs of agriculture land at Tivim. The plan was, however, scrapped due to objections from various organisations as some part of the acquired land was in forest area," he added.
"This land at Tivim was acquired in 2010 and till date, the tenants of this land are yet to be compensated," claimed Naik.
"Later, 23,000 sq mtrs of land was acquired at Sanguem at a cost of Rs 2,500 per square metre. Similarly, 2,92,900 sq mtrs of land was acquired at Maulingem at a cost of Rs 2,500 per square metre under the leadership of then GCA president Dr Shekhar Salkar," he added.
"If these land transactions are investigated thoroughly, many frauds will be exposed."
Naik also wondered if GCA Chairman Suraj Lotlikar's status as Goa Forward Party treasurer had any bearing on the government's move to hand over land to the GCA for the international cricket stadium.
"Is the government undertaking this deal because GCA Chairman Suraj Lotlikar also happens to be the treasurer of Goa Forward Party?"
"Lotlikar has been in GCA since 2012 and he was also a part of the GCA executive committee during the tenure of GCA former presidents, Balu Phadke and Chetan Desaai. At that time, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had condemned the affairs of the GCA," said Naik.
"If the government goes ahead with this deal because Goa Forward Party's Treasurer Suraj Lotlikar is presently the GCA president, it could backfire on the State government," suggested Naik.
"No one is opposing the international cricket stadium at Dhargal, but it is not right to hand over the land to GCA to construct this stadium," Naik added.
PANAJI
The government's decision to lease out 1.89 lakh sq. mtrs of land at Dhargal-Pernem to the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) for the proposed international cricket stadium has been questioned by a former GCA secretary, at a time when the GCA is embroiled in irregularities and is being investigated by Economic Offences Cell (EOC) and Enforcement Directorate.
"How can the government do business with GCA, which has been defamed due to scams and is being investigated by the Economic Offences Cell (EOC) and ED," asked former GCA Secretary Shirish Naik, while speaking to The Goan.
Alleging that GCA had misused the funds received from BCCI and the misdeeds were revealed during an audit by the BCCI, Naik added: "BCCI has vast amounts of money and can easily buy land in any part of the country. So, why is the state government keen to lease land for a sports city for a meagre amount?"
He claimed that if the EDC could build a convention centre, what stopped the sports department from building a cricket stadium.
"The state surely needs an international cricket stadium, but why is the government keen to hand over land to the GCA, which is involved in financial scams and has lost public trust," asked Naik.
Naik also claimed that every person holding the post of GCA president had been keen to have the international cricket stadium in his locality.
"During the tenure of former GCA president Dayanand Narvekar, the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs had acquired 1,30,328 sq mtrs of agriculture land at Tivim. The plan was, however, scrapped due to objections from various organisations as some part of the acquired land was in forest area," he added.
"This land at Tivim was acquired in 2010 and till date, the tenants of this land are yet to be compensated," claimed Naik.
"Later, 23,000 sq mtrs of land was acquired at Sanguem at a cost of Rs 2,500 per square metre. Similarly, 2,92,900 sq mtrs of land was acquired at Maulingem at a cost of Rs 2,500 per square metre under the leadership of then GCA president Dr Shekhar Salkar," he added.
"If these land transactions are investigated thoroughly, many frauds will be exposed."
Naik also wondered if GCA Chairman Suraj Lotlikar's status as Goa Forward Party treasurer had any bearing on the government's move to hand over land to the GCA for the international cricket stadium.
"Is the government undertaking this deal because GCA Chairman Suraj Lotlikar also happens to be the treasurer of Goa Forward Party?"
"Lotlikar has been in GCA since 2012 and he was also a part of the GCA executive committee during the tenure of GCA former presidents, Balu Phadke and Chetan Desaai. At that time, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had condemned the affairs of the GCA," said Naik.
"If the government goes ahead with this deal because Goa Forward Party's Treasurer Suraj Lotlikar is presently the GCA president, it could backfire on the State government," suggested Naik.
"No one is opposing the international cricket stadium at Dhargal, but it is not right to hand over the land to GCA to construct this stadium," Naik added.
