Good? Bad? Ugly?
LANDBURGER-Quitol Quepem
Derek Almeida â Gomantak Times
February 11, 2007
Once considered a remote sleepy village in South Goa, Quitol has been pushed to center stage with two government departments and a UK-based real estate company fighting for a large chunk of land over looking the sea. And the deeper one delves into the issue the more mysterious it becomes.
The players
The Goa Industrial Development Corporation has initiated the process to acquire four lakh square metres to set up auxiliary services for the food park. The tourism department is pushing a 1992 proposal from Leela Ventures to set up a golf course on the same land to attract high-end tourists.
And Claremont International a UK based real estate run by NRIs is trying to buy the same piece of land (a beach included) to set up a 100 million pound luxury township with three, four and five bedroom apartments.
This clash of interests has led to verbal duels between Quepem MLA and GIDC chairperson Babu Kavlekar and Tourism Minister Dr Wilfred de Souza, with Babu categorically stating, "I will not allow a golf course to be set up in Quitol".
GIDC can't build
Dr. Dâ Souza questions the wisdom in acquiring land to set up auxiliary services to the food park. "What is the point in the GIDC acquiring the land when it cannot build any structure on it?"
The land (over four lakh square metres) hugs the coast, and according to coastal regulations no new construction is allowed within 200 metres of the high tide line. As for the land that falls between 200 and 500 metres, only tourism related projects are allowed.
Despite these restrictions the GDIC went ahead with the land acquisition by issuing a notification on December 1, 2006 to acquire 4.281akh square metres for setting up auxiliary services to the food park.
This raised heckles from the Tourism Minister who strongly objected to the acquisition. He said: "Coastal Zone Management Authority has objected to the acquisition and has filed a detailed letter as to why it cannot be acquired."
Claremont joins the chorus
As this sparring continued in the upper echelons of the government, Claremont International disclosed its plans to set up a 100 million pound township on the same land through its web site. When Claremont's plans were made known by Team GT the pages pertaining to the project were immediately taken off the website giving the indication that something was amiss.
With the Tourism Department and the GIDC at logger heads over acquisition of the land, rumours began to do the rounds that certain elements in the government were acquiring the land for Claremont International.
Kavlekar, who resides in the village stoutly, denied this allegation. He countered by saying, "If I misguide the people of my own village, I will have no place to go."
However, the GIDC does not have a convincing explanation as to why it cannot locate the auxillary services in the food park itself? Why does it need to acquire an additional four lakh square metres near the coast for auxillary services? (See illustration)
Click on link to see the Claremont website: www.firstgoa.com
New twist to the plot
Then during the January session of the Legislative Assembly, an answer by Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane who held the TCP portfolio put a spin on the whole issue.
According to the answer the GIDC on December 15, 2005 had written to the Town and Country Planning Department requesting that land meant for the food park in Quitol be converted from Industrial to Settlement S2.
GIDC managing director Palekar confirmed that the GIDC had sought "industrial/settlement" classification for the land. This move fueled speculation that GIDC had plans for constructing housing complexes in the food park and that Clare¬mont International was using the backdoor to buy the land in Quitol.
When asked why "settlement S2 classification" was required for an industrial park, GIDC chairperson Kavlekar said some residential quarters for GIDC staff would have to be constructed in the food park.
It is learnt that even while the tourism and industries departments battle it out, certain brokers based in Panjim and Margao have been approaching the families with enticing offers. Some sales have been clinched in the belief that plans for the food park would eventually be shelved leaving the way open for construction.
Kavlekar has one thing clear in his mind.
He wants a food park and an auxillary park, and if then for some reason the Auxillary Park cannot be set up then he wants to ensure that the land is reserved for further expansion of the village.
It is learnt that on January 28 at a special gram sabha Kavlekar suggested that he was willing to drop acquisition for the auxillary services park provided the land owners are willing to reserve the land for villagers only.
TIMELINE
May 25, 1992: Leela Venture ltd offers to set up a golf course at Quitol
April 15, 1993: State government accepts the leela Venture offer .
November 30, 2005: GIDC announces through a notification its decision to acquire nearly 181akh square meters of land in Quitol for the food park.
December 15, 2005: GIDC approaches Town and Country Planning Department to change classification of this land from Industrial to settlement S2.
Subsequently, Praveen Kumar Gosalia moves the High Court to stall the acquisition.
October10, 2006: High Court orders that physical possession will not be taken until further orders.
December 1, 2006: GIDC issues notification to acquire 8.83 lakh square metres for setting up industrial estate I food park and 4.28 lakh square metres.
LAND HOLDING PATTERN
⢠A huge chunk of the 8.83 lakh square metres required to set up the food park is owned by the Quitol communidade.
⢠The next largest land owner is the Fernandes Costa family with 2.40 lakh square metres to its name.
⢠The area sought for the auxiliary services park is far more fragmented. It is roughly divided between the Barros-Andrade, lobo-Pereira and Caeiro families.
THE ALLEGATIONS
Apart from a national TV channel, political enemies of Churchill Alemao and Dr Wilfred de Souza have alleged that Roy Barros-Pereira (Churchill's son-in-law) and Tulio D'Souza (Dr Wilfred's son-in-law) are promoting the Claremont International Project. GT-Weekender spoke to both of them and this is what they had to say:
Tulio D'Souza, consulting architect
"I am a consulting architect, not a real estate agent."
''Although clients from abroad have approached me for advice, I have never seen Claremont International and I have not had any contact with them."
"I have been linked with Churchill's son-inlaw when I don't even know him."
"I don't take up projects in South and I have never visited the site in Quitol."
Boy Barros Pereira, real estate developer
"I am not in touch with Claremont International, but I was looking for a large piece of land in Quitol over-looking the sea to hold an annual art festival."
"As soon NDTV telecast the story, I met Dr Willy and urged him to give a clarification."
"I don't know Tulio very well as I only met him once."
"I was approached by Dr Barros who owns some land to facilitate a sale, but nothing happened."
