Thaindian News

Panaji, Sep 26 (IANS) The Goa government has been “unable” to execute the order of demolition of an illegal hotel resort for nearly nine months now as the Russian owners of the property cannot be found, an official said Saturday.
The demolition order was issued by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority for illegal construction in four separate coastal properties at the picturesque Morjim beach in north Goa by Ms True Axis resorts, measuring nearly 30,000 square metres.

Deputy Collector of Pernem Rajendra Mirajkar said he had been “unable to serve a demolition notice” to the Russian directors - Leonid Beyzer and Valiulin Rashida - of the firm because they could not be traced.

“The Indian partner Francis D’Souza has already resigned from the company. And we could not execute the demolition order because the Russian directors of the company cannot be traced,” Mirajkar told IANS.

“Formality demands that we serve the demolition notice to the remaining company directors, who are untraceable,” Mirajkar said.

A police spokesperson said they had not been contacted by the north Goa administration to trace the missing Russian nationals.

“Our assistance has not been sought yet. Our Foreigners Registration Office has records of all foreigners staying in Goa on a business or a long term visa,” a senior police officer said.

“I had recommended to the state law secretary that the sale deeds in such controversial land deals be cancelled in order to ensure that foreigners violating laws of the land are punished,” North Goa Collector R. Mihir Vardhan told IANS.

The issue had arisen in the monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly with the opposition demanding that the illegal construction by the Russian-controlled company be demolished forthwith.

State Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira had later assured that the government would act within 30 days against the illegal construction.

The property, which was purchased by the company promoted by two Russian directors along with an Indian partner some years back for about Rs.2 crore (Rs.20 million), is one of 286 properties purchased by foreigners that are being probed for violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) norms.