LAND LOSERS ARE NOT LIVING IN FOOL'S PARADISE MR. CHIEF MINISTER by Nisser Dias

Very recently chief minister of Goa Digambar Kamat made some grand announcement that his government would pay land losers compensation at the market rate. For politicians it is very easy to make such comments not only beforehand but even before application of mind. Of course politicians are known to resort to rhetoric to appease the masses and also for votes. But when statement involving crores and crores of exchequers money is made, people immediately realize that the politician (in this case the chief minister) is trying to pull wool over their eyes.

The question before us today is can this government afford to pay land owners whose land has been acquired at the market value. What has necessitated such a statement is government’s overwhelming greed to acquire land in the name of development and the growing opposition from land losers to part with the land. Basically the rate that the government awards to the land losers is meagre compared to the astronomical market value. People have to approach the courts to enhance the compensation paid to them by the government.

But in the recent years, ministers saw an opportunity to amass wealth by indiscriminately acquiring land and leasing it out to corporate houses, industrialists and even to real estate developers and builders. Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Golf courses, IT parks, Food processing units, Cricket stadium, and Mopa International airport are few such examples where government tried to acquire land for personal benefits.

People of Goa saw through the designs of the government and started agitating at each and every project that was sanctioned in the state. Recently their stand was vindicated by the High Court when it observed that proper procedure was not followed in allotment of huge tracts of land for SEZs. Elected representative also lent their support to people but only where they did not stand to gain. For example development of IT Habitat at Dona Paula was stopped for whatever reasons, then before the general election in 2006 some politicians strongly objected to an airport at Mopa and six laning of the national highway but today have done a complete volte facie. Due to the self-indulgence of politicians, the government is not leaving any stone unturned to acquire more and more land thus agitating Goans and facing their wrath.

The chief minister Digambar Kamat saw that people of Goa would not allow widening of the national highways and in a bid to pacify or more specifically to deceive them announced that the government to compensate them at market rate. Let us first understand how government arrives at a price to be paid to land losers in ordinary circumstances. The collector of the particular district collects sale statistics from the mamladar and sub registrar of the properties to be acquired. Based on the lowest sale deed he works out the modalities and finally comes with a rate that is condemnable. Ultimately what the land losers receives is a pittance. Ironically the collector has absolutely no knowledge of land valuation and worst still is the fact that qualified government land valuers are never consulted on this issue. And in the committee that is being formed to determine the market value of land to be acquired Collectors of both the districts Goa are named as members. What justice can the Goans get from these two officials when it is well know that they are the puppets in hands of politicians? To my mind they will adopt the same system that is currently being used by them or in hindsight decide on individual basis for personal benefits or at the behest of the politicians.

Be that as it may, what will be criteria adopted to fix the market value of the land that is being acquired. For example on a stretch of land of one kilometre adjoining the highway – say part of it is developed with grocery stores, pharmacy, hospital, ATMs meaning local business activity while the other stretch is still yet to be developed, how will the committee decide the market value of this stretch of land. Is it going to value the stretch with business activity higher than the other? The owner of the undeveloped stretch of land in his wisdom must have kept it undeveloped with the thought that in near future when land gets scarce he might get much higher price. Then how will the committee compensate the developed stretch of land, will it assess each and every business enterprise at the present market value per se or will it assess their profits for the next ten years and then fix the market value? The government has to address these issues first.

Then comes the question of period of time that the government is going to take to pay the compensation for land along the National Highways along the length and breadth of Goa. If there is a delay in prompt payment will the government pay the interest. Given our state finances which are not very healthy. I am saying this because just last week policemen had a tough time getting their salaries. The bank simply refused to accept salary cheques to credit their salaries. Police personnel were forced to get endorsement from the state government’s accounts department only then salaries were released.

Then there are plenty of cases where the government is yet to release funds for land that is already acquired. Worse still is the fact that victims of natural calamities in the state and victims of last year’s Canacona floods are yet to receive compensation from the government. There are hundreds of mediclaim applications pending before the government. Payments of these are kept in abeyance because the government does not have adequate funds to meets these demands. Less spoken about the pension scheme the better it is. So the question how will Digambar Kamat government generate the type of money to pay land losers at market value. The price of paying market value for land in Goa will be so high that it will override the cost of widening the national highways passing through Goa. Can Goa government sustain such a huge financial burden especially when it is yet to implement the sixth pay scales in all the government departments?

In conclusion does the chief minister Digambar Kamat’s announcement has the backing of the cabinet? Has it been agreed in the cabinet or is it that the chief minister is talking in the air.

For a moment let’s grant him that he has the cabinet sanction for the decision to pay market value to land users. Firstly will he be able to clear all the cases before completion of his term. He might issue awards to all the land losers but will the next government if not headed Digambar Kamat honour it? Chief Ministers should realise that state finances are not their personal kitty to dole out money as and how they want. Lok Ayukta might not have not come to force, but there are enough agencies to stop the chief minister from using exchequers’ money in a foolish manner. Lastly Mr. Chief Minister none of the Goans are convinced with your statement as we are not living in a fool’s paradise.