the goan I network
VALPOI
The landowners have accused authorities of neglecting the Valpoi Jawahar Navodaya school building and land issue since the last 20 years, claiming that they were ready to arrive at a compromise with the government.
"Many times, we have expressed our willingness to compromise, but authorities concerned are least bothered to resolve the land issue," clarified Maria Pinho, while speaking to media persons in the presence of Agnel Pinho and Ashley Pinho near the Jawahar Navodaya school building at Valpoi on Tuesday morning.
The residential school, which is affiliated to the Ministry of Human Resources, was set up at Valpoi for the benefit of students from North Goa.
The school was initially housed in the building owned by the police department and in 1995, was shifted to a new complex at Massorde.
Maria Pinho and her family then filed a case before the additional sessions court at Mapusa claiming that the property belonged to them and contended that the school building was illegal.
In 2004, the court passed an order upholding the claims of Maria Filomena and her family, directing the Jawahar Navodaya Committee (JNC) to vacate the premises.
The JNC along with government authorities then filed a petition seeking a stay in the high court, but they have not been permitted to carry out any further construction in the property. As a result, most of the buildings at the school complex, spread across 1,17,950 sq m of land at Massordem, are in dilapidated condition and need urgent repairs.
"Meetings were convened twice and they were chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. We have already submitted our demands, but so far there has been nothing positive in this regard," Maria Pinho told reporters.
Incidentally, the School PTA has filed two public interest litigations in the high court to draw attention to the precarious condition of the school complex and the matter is likely to come up for hearing some time soon.
