PANAJI
After several failed attempts, the BJP-led Goa government has made a fresh pitch to reclaim around 5,250 sq mtrs land opposite Kala Academy-Campal that is currently occupied by Military Hospital as the government intends to use the land for parking purposes.
The land continues to remain with the Indian Army, even two years after it formally shifted the Military Hospital to a full-fledged facility at Bambolim. In August, 2023, Army shifted their hospital, built at a cost of Rs 50 crore, next to the 2 Signal Training Centre base.
Apart from Campal land, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has also approached the State government for its intervention for seeking possession of 10,600 sq mtrs of land held by 2-signal training centre headquarters, which they also want to utilize for public purpose.
Highly placed sources confirmed that the government wants to utilize the land for parking space. “Either a multi-level car park facility or an open area for parking would be developed. This will help reduce all traffic congestion that takes place during events like Lokotsav or IFFI or any other events held at Kala Academy,” sources said.
Sources informed that despite shifting the hospital to Bambolim facility, the Army has not yet handed over the land to the CCP, to whom it belongs. The 96-bed hospital was built by Sood Associates by incorporating green building norms.
“CCP has asked the government to intervene to reclaim the land which is occupied for a 2-Signal Training Centre. The land can be put to use to decongest the city,” sources said. Currently it is an under-utilised parking facility for military vehicles which prevents locals from parking their vehicles even outside the premises.
As per the information, Goa handed over nearly 70.22 lakh sq mts of land to the Union Defence Ministry, since its liberation in December 1961. A total of 118 plots are under the control of the defence. Records show, defence has managed to acquire maximum land in Mormugao taluka, where the Naval base is situated. A total of 31.40 lakh sq mts of land, covering 80 plots, are in possession of the defence.
This is followed by Tiswadi taluka, where 25.89 sq mts of land is with the Indian Army.
The City Corporation’s battle to get its land back began in 2004 under then Mayor Ashok Naik. Subsequently, Mayors like Surendra Furtado and Shubham Chodankar continued efforts through several communications to the Union Defence Minister, particularly during 2014-19, when Manohar Parrikar was the defence minister.
Parrikar, during his stint as the Chief Minister, wanted to relocate areas under the military from Panaji, but even after becoming a defence minister, he failed to put the areas to public use.
In the year 2014, CCP had taken a resolution that space occupied by the Army for their 2 Signal Training Centre be returned to them. “The Army wanted to retain some portion of the land. The discussion had started on that line; however, it never moved forward,” sources said.
