PORVORIM: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said that state govt will not allow the use of the industrial land of Zuari Agro Chemicals Ltd for the residential project of House of Lodha at Sancoale. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said the matter represents a “Rs 50,000 crore scam”.
Sawant said, “We will conduct a detailed inquiry and even if permission has been granted for the project, we will cancel it.”
Sardesai said that the first CM of the state, Dayanand Bandodkar, had acquired the property belonging to poor people for 25 paise per sqm to hand over the land to Zuari Agro, aiming to generate jobs.
But the company, Sardesai said, sold the land at Rs 53,000 per sqm, putting the total amount over Rs 592 crore.
The property has been purchased by House of Lodha, Sardesai said, and the company is promoting its Gulf of Goa project.
He said the company is selling the property under the affordable housing scheme. “But that affordable housing is for non-Goans, not Goans,” he said.
Sardesai said that the builder is selling plots for Rs 1.1 lakh per sqm and “even Sawant and tourism minister Rohan Khaunte cannot afford a property” there.
Citing a TOI report, Sardesai said govt cannot introduce a bill to take the land back. He said even the Navy has granted permission and has no objection to the height of the buildings. A sanad has been given as well, he said.
Revenue minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate said that the comunidade of Sancoale had exhausted all legal remedies in trying to reclaim the land and prefers not to appeal against a high court order. The HC had said the sole owner of the land is Zuari Agro.
“We have taken opinions from senior advocates. We are awaiting the additional solicitor general’s view,” Monserrate said.
Sawant objected to the framing of the question as “the Zuari land scam”. He reiterated, “If the land was given for industrial purpose, we will not allow its sale for a residential project.”
After Sardesai questioned why the sale deed was not uploaded on the property registration portal, Sawant said he would ensure it is done.
“They have become Vasco da Gama and have come to conquer Goa. They (builders like House of Lodha) are conquering North and South Goa,” Sardesai said.
