PANAJI
The State government has issued instructions to its Special Land Acquisition Officer that those whose lands have been acquired for the Mopa airport may be issued 'land loser' certificates.
Only those whose claims to rights over land that was acquired for the international airport have been settled are eligible to get these 'land loser' certificates, the latest government missive stipulates.
There should not be any pending dispute pending before any court pertaining to the land acquired for the 'land loser' to gain the certificate, it adds.
Those who intend to secure these certificates need to apply to the Special Land Acquisition Officer, Mopa Airport Cell, who functions from capital city's iconic Junta House. Documents like the extract of the Land Acquisition Award along with the receipt of the compensation received must support the application.
In the years leading to the construction of the Mopa airport, the land acquisition process was fraught with much controversy with a section of the land-owing and land-tilling farmers and horticulturists opposing the acquisition.
There are still a number of them whose claims have not yet been settled and others who have raised objections and disputes before courts in relation to land acquired in five revenue villages -- Mopa, Uguem, Casarvorem, Chandel and Varconda in Pernem taluka.
A top government official said the certificate will be a record of sorts for posterity and could come in handy for the land losers and their descendants in claiming privileges and concessions from the government in the future.
