GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ACCEPT NAVY’S PROPOSAL FOR BIMBVEL ACQUISITION:CM

PANJIM: The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat on Wednesday assured the state legislative assembly that the government would not accept the proposal made by the naval authorities for acquisition of land at Bimbvel and the "grand island".

The Chief Minister gave this assurance while intervening during discussion on a calling attention motion moved by the Cortalim legislator and the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr Mauvin Godinho, even as he said that if need be the issue would be taken up at the level of the Defence Minister and the Prime Minister.

Mr Kamat informed the House that he agreed with the sentiments of the assembly as regards to opposition to grant land to the Navy and other central agencies adding that he had rejected the proposal earlier. He also said that a proper policy would be framed for land acquisition for central agencies and the government would be cautious in releasing the land in future.

Stating that despite clearance from central agencies over release of 2.5 acres of land for Dabolim airport expansion the naval authorities have been dillydallying in releasing the land and on the other hand they were seeking additional land from the state government for their "purposes", the Chief Minister went on to add that several central agencies were seeking land in the state for one reason or the other.

Earlier, Mr Manohar Parrikar, the leader of the opposition, brought to the notice of the House that naval authorities had refused to move the boundary of its depot near the airport by two metres to allow widening of road, even as he questioned as why the naval authorities were seeking so much of land. He went on to state that the Navy should be asked to undertake its expansion plans at Karwar where it has set up a new base.

He further said the naval authorities were "encroaching" upon everything then the state would lose control over the entire area, even as he said that if the requests from central agencies were accepted there would be no land left for Goans. He said the government should prevent public agitations by refusing to give more land to the Navy.

Mr Godinho said the people of the area were agitated over the process of land acquisition adding that if the request of naval authorities was granted then it would affect the fishing community, which uses the islands for resting, besides it would also deny them the right to offer prayers.

He also said that tourism would also be badly affected if the possession of the land was given to the Navy, as the places were frequented by tourists from all over and also by the locals. The Navy already has a presence on the nearby island, he said adding that request for more land must be turned down.

He also pointed out various lapses in the written reply by the Revenue Minister, Mr Jose Philip D’Souza and wondered how the file was moved for government approval by the revenue authorities in absence of a proper policy.

The Revenue Minister said that he has already made his stand clear on the issue that no more land would be given to the Navy. He said that he has a proposal for setting up an amusement park on the island, which was frequented by a large number of tourists.