http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=012133
Mopa land process must continue, says Khalap NT Staff Reporter Panaji Jan 20: Though the state government is left with only four days to complete formalities in acquiring 30 lakh sq mt land for the proposed Mopa airport under section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, the government seemed to be not eager to issue a notification for the purpose. If the formalities are not completed by January 24, the entire process, which began last year, will be lapsed. Expressing concern over the indecisiveness of the state government on notification, the former Union minister and senior Congress leader, Mr Ramakant Khalap called on the Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsing Rane yesterday. He discussed acquisition of the land for public interest, failing which, he felt, the state would lose crores of rupees. Mr Khalap told The Navhind Times that he appealed to the Chief Minister to apprise the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh of the problem in issuing notification. Mr Khalap reminded the Chief Minister that the Congress had asked the Prime Minister to study the Mopa airport project so as to take a decision — whether the state should go ahead with the project or not. Mr Khalap informed that he requested the Chief Minister to direct the state administration to issue notification as process for the project had started a year ago and the government could wait for the Prime Minister's decision. If Dr Singh's decision is otherwise the acquired land can be used for any other purposes, Mr Khalap observed, adding that the process if not completed would be lapsed and the government would have to face heavy losses. Besides, he said if the process as per the Act was not completed land owners might inflate prices of land if the fresh process for land acquisition was initiated. This would put more burden on state exchequer. Mr Khalap said the land owners, whose land was supposed to be acquired, might even demand compensation as they could not sell off their land. Informing that the Maharashtra government had taken aggressive step in acquiring land at Chipi near Vengurla, Mr Khalap said the Maharashtra was making a case for an airport there. If the proposed Mopa airport is dropped, Maharashtra's demand for airport in the Konkan would get stronger and in the bargain Goa would be loser. The former Union minister said if the government dithers to issue notification and allows to lapse the land acquisition process someone may file a public interest litigation against the government for recovery of the money already spent on the land acquisition process. The state government has almost completed the land acquisition process for 54 lakh sq mt land at Mopa plateau to be acquired in the first phase. The government has to finalise the award to the land owners before April this year or else the entire land acquisition process undertaken during the last two year will lapse. -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England Comment: Can some aspiring investigative journalist or like minded Citizen, please check out of Khalap has a vested interest in this i.e. he or his relations have bought tracts of land in Mopa
