PORVORIM: Industrial land, initially intended for affordable housing schemes (which are generally meant for the poor), is allegedly being sold to the super-rich across the country and abroad on Zuari factory land, which was originally purchased at 25 paise per square metre.
The plots were initially sold at Rs 53,000 per square metre, but are now being sold at Rs 1.19 lakh per square metre in Sancoale, according to Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai. He has alleged a Rs 50,000 crore scam, claiming that land acquired for industrial use is being sold for residential purposes at exorbitant rates.
While Revenue Minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate stated that it was Communidade of Sancoale land, Sardesai questioned how the government was issuing sanads and how the Indian Navy had given its no-objection certificate (NOC) despite height restrictions due to the vicinity of Dabolim airport.
However, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the House of a detailed inquiry into the sale of land at Sancoale by Zuari Industries Ltd. He also asserted that the government would proceed to cancel permissions given in the past if illegalities are found after the inquiry, noting that the government is awaiting the opinion of Additional Solicitor General K M Natarajan on the matter. “We will not allow the party to use industrial land for residential purposes,” said Sawant.
The Fatorda MLA demanded to know whether the remaining land would also be sold as plots or flats. He also questioned why the deeds of the said property are not in the property register. The total land acquired by the then government was 540 hectares at a rate of 25 paise per square metre.
Sardesai also pointed out that a former Advocate General had stated that the land could be taken over by the government.