1) JosePhilip D Souza (Former Revenue Minister) on February 14, 2011
(The Goan has extracts of the minutes of the Valentine’s Daymeet when the decision to de-notify Costa’s land was taken)
Extracts of minutes: “Jose Philip and Godinho had also saidthat Costa had pleaded that the land which is going to be acquired isclassified under settlement zone and is meant for family use and it is unfairto acquire land which is part of settlement zone when vacant space meant forparking is vacant nearby”
Jose Philip D Souza on November 27 2012
Excerpts from his interview to The Goan on Tuesday, November27
Q. Bernard Costa’s land was given back to him on the pleathat a son of the soil was being denied his right to property. In the hindsightdo you think that it was a wrong decision?
JPD: It was the then cabinet who took the decision and notme. I had not done it single handedly.
Q. Would you have still gone ahead to de-notify the land hadyou known that Bernard and family would ultimately be selling it to a builder?
JPD: I cannot answer this.
Q. Your own MLA (Reginaldo) has accused you and the CongressGovernment of corruption and irregularities. Even the facts in the case so farpoint to it. Are you open to a CBI inquiry?
JPD: For any allegation it’s up to the government to takedecision on what they want in the matter
2) DigambarKamat (former Chief Minister) on November 9, 2011
Kamat at an official meeting to discuss alternate land forairport
“Grave injustice has been done to the Costa family byacquiring their entire land. Reversing the decision on de-notification is ruledout”
Digambar Kamat on November 27, 2012
Reacting to questions posed by The Goan
“The decision was taken by the cabinet, not by meindividually. It is not fair to use somebody’s private land when so much ofland is available for acquisition”
Mauvin Godinho on November 8, 2011
(Quoted in the local media)
“Why should the locals suffer. Presently half of land inMormugao is in possession of Central government authorities, be it Navy, CoastGuard, Airport Authority of India etc,”
Mauvin Godinho this week
Persistently refused to answer calls or respond to phonetexts
