MAPUSA
Opposition MLAs Vijai Sardesai and Carlos Ferreira have raised serious concerns about the legality of the land lease deal signed between Kargwal Construction Pvt Ltd and the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) for the controversial marina project. The lease agreement, executed in 2010, involves approximately 1 lakh square metres of land.
Sardesai argued that the land in question is owned by the State government, and questioned how MPT could lease it to Kargwal Construction without possessing ownership rights.
“How can someone lease a piece of land over which they have no ownership rights? MPT has become a state within a state,” Sardesai asserted.
Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira added that there are ongoing legal proceedings concerning the land’s ownership.
“The land is with the government. How can the company sign a lease deal with MPT over this land? It’s a dubious way to finalise the deal,” Ferreira said, emphasising that such agreements should have been handled directly by the government.
In response to these concerns, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira assured the House that the government will consult with the Advocate General to clarify the legal aspects of the land ownership and lease agreement.
