NGO urges Goa MLAs to raise issue of illegal biz by foreigners

PANAJI: A Goa-based NGO today alleged that illegal businesses were being run by foreigners in the state and appealed the legislators to take up the issue in the Legislative Assembly session that began today.

"There is a nexus between politicians, police and government, which has given a free hand to foreigners to illegally conduct business in the coastal belt," Durgadas Kamat, Chief of state's leading NGO ' Gen Next', said in a statement.

"This issue should be taken up by all the legislators in the (current) Assembly session," he said.

The week-long Winter session of the Goa Legislative Assembly began here today.

"There are structures put up by foreigners in agricultural and orchard lands, which cannot be converted for commercial purpose," he said, adding they (the foreigners) were running clubs and restaurants in these illegally converted properties.

"This is a clear-cut case of violation of RBI guidelines," Kamat said, adding "It is very disheartening to see that Goan businessmen, who are operating legally, have been suffering due to these illegal businesses."

The NGO has approached the Goa bench of Bombay High Court against the illegal businesses, Kamat added