Daijiworld Media Network - Ponda

Ponda, Nov 13: The Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) has rejected the Defence Ministry's proposal to purchase land adjoining Kranti Maidan in Ponda, which currently houses the residences of officers posted at the 6 Technical Training Regiment (6TTR) in Curti. The council has also turned down the Centre's request to extend the lease of the land.

The Defence Ministry holds 16,475 square metres of land at the site, while a smaller adjoining plot measuring 2,530 square metres belongs to the PMC. The council has developed Kranti Maidan on its land as a monument dedicated to the martyrs of Goa's Liberation.

The land was originally taken over by the erstwhile Portuguese regime on August 19, 1954, when around 18,625 square metres (4.602 acres) at Sadar Ponda was acquired for establishing a military camp.

Following Goa's Liberation, the premises became the officers' residential quarters, also known as Camp 2 of the 6TTR.

The PMC, which was established in 1971, initiated efforts to reclaim the land on January 30, 1971. Following several rounds of discussions and correspondence between the council and the Defence Ministry, the ministry proposed to pay rent for the land on October 18, 1973.

Subsequently, following the intervention of then chief minister Ravi Naik, then Defence Minister Sharad Pawar returned a portion of the land measuring 2,530 square metres to the PMC in 1992-93.

However, the Army continues to occupy the larger portion of the property, and efforts to reclaim the remaining land have continued.

The Defence Ministry has now proposed purchasing the 16,475-square-metre plot, while also seeking an extension of the existing lease agreement, which expires on December 18. The Army currently pays around Rs 50,000 as rent for the land.

PMC Chief Officer Bhimnath Khorjuvekar confirmed that both proposals were rejected at the council meeting held on Friday.

**Timeline**

- August 19, 1954: Portuguese authorities take over the land for establishing a military camp.
- January 30, 1971: PMC initiates efforts to reclaim the property.
- October 18, 1973: Defence Ministry proposes paying rent for the land.
- February 22, 1992: PMC requests the Defence Ministry to return the land.
- 1993: Defence Ministry returns 2,530 square metres to the PMC.

**Land details**

- Total area: 18,625 square metres (4.602 acres)
- Kranti Maidan (PMC-owned): 2,530 square metres (0.625 acres)
- Military camp area: 16,475 square metres (0.985 acres)