Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: Terming it a major land scam, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that the government has come across 60-70 cases of illegal land transfers, including government own properties.
For the very first time, the State government set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe into cases of illegal land grabs in the state.
The SIT is led by the superintendent of police, crime branch, Nidhin Valsan, and has six others, including the deputy collector of South Goa, Snehal Prabhu, deputy superintendent of police Braz Menezes and representatives from the departments of archaeology and the state registrar.
Sawant today told reporters that there have been various cases of land grabbing with the police department as well as the department of the registrar.
He said there should be around 60-70 cases of land grabbing, mainly from the coastal belt of Pernem, Bardez, and Salcete.
“There are cases where the properties of Goans residing in foreign countries are transferred to someone else’s name. Even government land is being illegally transferred,” Sawant said.
He said that SIT would investigate each and every case and appealed to citizens to come forward and file complaints, even directly with SIT.
Last evening the government had constituted a special investigation team (SIT) in the state for the first time ever to investigate the matters of illegal land grabbing/transfer.
“Goa being one of the most sought-after destinations, has been the target of such criminals involved in illegal land grabbing. We will leave no stone unturned to protect the land of Goa and the interest of Goans. We have come across some cases of such illegal land transfers; hence we have constituted the team to take swift action in such matters,” he added.
