Goa Congress to move Lokayukta over land acquisition

Alleging that Goa government had short-changed locals at Tuem village by acquiring their land at very low prices and selling it to industries at high prices, the state unit of Congress today said that it would move the proposed Lokayukta over the issue.
Congress spokesman Sudip Tamankar said that the party was preparing a full-proof case against chief minister Manohar Parrikar for land acquisition at Tuem village where landholders were paid only Rs 25 per square metre for their land.
"The same land was sold to industries at Rs 1,000 per sq metre by the state-run Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)," he said, adding that he got the information under Right to Information Act.

He also alleged that the process of land acquisition was brutal and it was a case of human rights violation.
He said that local gram sabha of Tuem in Pernem taluka has now decided not to give any land for industry.
Goa government has passed State Lokayukta Bill which has been sent for the assent of the governor and former Supreme Court judge P Sudarshan Reddy would be taking over as Lokayukta.