Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has yet again accused the Central Government of trying to capture the land in Goa through its agencies.
Addressing a Press conference in the State Secretariat, Parrikar said that he has rejected permissions to at least three Government agencies namely the Indian Railways, Border Security Force and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) because the demands for land seemed unreasonable, especially considering its short supply in Goa.
“I have rejected the demand for land for this project,” Parrikar said, referring to a Union Ministry of Railways project which asked for doubling of the railway track between Hospet in Karnataka and Vasco, a significant portion of which falls within Goa’s State borders.
The demand for doubling of the track operated by the South Central Railway had come from the industry in Goa, especially the mining traders here, who had hoped that it would help in ferrying ore and cargo to and from Goa to Karnataka more quickly. The Railway Board had already sanctioned Rs 2,127 crore for the railway track doubling project.
Parrikar also said that he had rejected demands by several other Central Government agencies including the Border Security Force and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which had requested large chunks of the land from the State Government to set up base camps and residential facilities in the State. “I am very clear. I will not give any sanction for land allotment to them unless it is really needed for the State,” Parrikar said.
The Chief Minister also clarified that as and when required for the benefit of the State he had acceded to some land allotment demands from the Central Government including the one for the setting up of National Institute of Technology which has been allotted to Goa. But even here he said he had to stave off the demand for excess land.
“They first asked for 300 acres. It was only after we convinced them that the campus could be built with only 120 acres that they agreed and we allotted them the land,” Parrikar said. Parrikar, a BJP Chief Minister has been at loggerheads with the Central Congress-led Government over a range of issues like appointment of IAS and IPS officers and allotment of finances for the State.