Goanet next meets in Goa on Jan 7 at 4 pm. Meeting point: Kala Academy Canteen, Panjim. Goanet founder Herman Carneiro will be there. See you too! ------------------------------ Parrikar assures NRI Goans of 'protecting' land
BY HERALD REPORTER http://www.oherald.com PANJIM, JAN 3 -- The State government is seriously considering a plan to set up an agency to enable Goans overseas who hold landed property to deposit their real estate for safe keeping, free from possible encroachers. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar made this disclosure at an interactive session with non-resident Goans and Indians on their "expectations and concerns" during the course of the on-going Gomant Vishwa Sammelan at the Kala Academy here. He was responding to a query raised by a non-resident Goan lady who sought to know why, in the case of illegal encroachments in their properties, judicial proceedings required the onus of proof to rest on the owners, while the encroachers do not have to prove anything. Mr Parrikar, while acknowledging the problem, said his government was contemplating setting up an agency to which non-resident Goans could deposit the documentary evidence of their real estate for safe keeping. Subsequent encroachers if any would be "evicted easily" and the real estate handed over back to the depositor in the condition it was deposited, he said. This agency may be some sort of a Trust, Mr Parrikar said, adding that the nitty-gritties of the plan will be worked out shortly. Questions raised by NRGs and NRIs on several other issues relating to the State's law-and-order situation, arbitrary and over-charging by taxi-drivers, state of the roads, etc., were also addressed by Mr Parrikar in the session. The chief minister said the government would shortly take up four-laning of the NH-17 from Margao to Mapusa. Some Rs 500-crore required for this project will commence to be made available from the next budget onwards, he added. He also assured that the alignment of the 4-laned NH-17 is currently being re-located to minimise the need for demolishing houses and structures. "Let me assure you here that apart from the compound walls of a couple of houses no demolitions will take place. However, I cannot say the same of some of the illegal structures that exist on this alignment," Mr Parrikar said. On over-charging and the arbitrary rates charged by taxis in Goa, Mr Parrikar assured that before the next tourism season begins all taxis will compulsorily follow the metering system of charging clients. Prior to this interactive session, Goa's planning authorities came in for some severe criticism from NRIs for allowing builders in Goa a carte blanche to do as they please. One US returned Goan couple, narrated their experience of having bought a bungalow in Dona Paula with the intention of in-migration but their hopes being belied with the authorities subsequently allowing indiscriminate changes in planning and zoning areas making the area uninhabitable. Another NRI urged the government to ensure quotas for children of expat Goans in professional and graduate colleges in the State. He pointed out that expats, particularly those in the Gulf countries reach a roadblock when their children complete their education upto the Higher Secondary level. Improvement of sanitation and a clampdown on illegal activities being brazenly carried out in the State were the other expectations that were voiced by the NRGs and NRIs. The discussion was chaired by former army chief, Sunith Rodrigues, and moderated by renowned educationist, Fr Romaldo de Souza and Brig. (Retd), Ian D'Costa. Former MLA, Herculano Dourado moderated the interactive session. ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################