Officials hold meeting with land owners, tenants
the goan I network
MARGAO
The government has kicked off the process to acquire land admeasuring nine lakh square meters at Sanguem taluka for the proposed IIT with the district Collector, South Anjali Sehrawat holding a meeting with officials and land owners, including tenants, some of whom are opposed to the acquisition of their farming land for the education project.
Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar, said today's meeting held at the district Collectorate, South was just an interaction with officials how to go about the project, later told the media that he would welcome the IIT project in his constituency, but on condition that the government protect the interests of both, the property owners as well as the tenants. "I am for the IIT project in Sanguem, but the interests of the farmers, owners and tenants need to be protected. Compensation is not enough. Something needs to be done so that they sustain their lives after the acquisition of their land", Prasad said.
Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral told the media after the meeting that authorities will find out the legal tenants and the encroachers on government as well as private land, which is identified for the proposed IIT. "I am confident that more than 75 per cent of the land owners and tenants will give their land by consent. There's one lease holder, who is ready to give NOC to acquire one lakh square meters of land. As far as the balance
TENANT THREATENS TO COMMIT SUICIDE
MARGAO: One Pedru Cruz, who claimed that he is a tenant, has strongly opposed the project on his land, threatening to commit suicide if the government tries to forcibly displace him from his property. Pedru Cruz pointed out that he and other tenants have been eking a living from the land, which was given to them by the landlords. "We grow paddy on the land, besides we have a cashew plantation. I am opposed to the IIT project and if the government bulldozes its way by forcibly acquiring our land, I will even commit suicide", he said.land is concerned, we will see how to go about the acquisition", he added.
South Goa district Collector, Anjali Sehrawat said the major challenge before the authorities is to identify the legal heirs of the tenants, because a sizeable chunk of land is being owned by the third generation of the tenants. "This was the first meeting and the authorities will meet again on November 21 to discuss the follow up of today's meeting. We have tried to find out whether the government can get the land via consent free from encumbrances. There's government as well as private land in the area identified for the proposed IIT. The Forest department will be asked to demarcate the area, to ascertain whether diversion is possible vis-à- vis forest land", the Collector said.
