PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that his government was drafting rules to finalise the legal takeover of ‘no man’s land’ parcels, something that the Opposition and legal experts have criticised as a move to usurp land that may later be claimed by legal heirs. According to the CM, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on land-grabbing has identified several such properties across the State. In this edition of Street Voices, Herald TV spoke to people on the government's plan in acquiring ‘no man's land’ in Goa.
What will the government do by taking over no man’s land? Whose is this no man’s land? There must be some owner/s. By bypassing the owners, you want to take over the land and pass it on to outsiders who are ready to take over the land and who have pressurised you to bring this bill. Goans have not told you to enact such a law. This has been brought by investors who have pressurised the Centre. This is an attempt to finish Goa openly and officially. How will you identify no man’s land. Your brokers will come out now to show you which properties are vulnerable. Whose properties are available.
The government should not forget the sentiments of the heirs of the no man’s land. However, if the government is determined to go ahead, the first things would be to incorporate a rule for the purpose of acquisition, for what purpose this land being acquired will be used for, not giving the government to acquire land and use the land for their whims and fancies and may even sell it as claimed by some leaders. Secondly, when you talk of acquisition, where will the compensation amount be kept?. And if an heir proves that he is the heir, will he have a right to that compensation?
This statement of CM Pramod Sawant that no man’s land will be taken over by the government and given to someone, is completely erroneous. Has the CM taken the members of the Goa legislative assembly into confidence? The Congress MLAs who crossed over to the BJP should put this in their manifesto that they will support takeover of no man’s land. The BJP MLAs should say that they will support takeover of no man’s land. What has the government done of the land that was taken over by the SIT.