Team Herald
SANGUEM: While assuring those in occupation of recently converted Sociedade owned lands at Uguem into government lands will not be denied of their occupancy rights to the properties held by them between 1960 and 1971, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant informed the villagers of not getting any ownership rights to the encroachments and plantation done by them since the time of the said lands being transferred in the name of Government of Goa.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
“Those having any ownership rights to any portion of the erstwhile Sociedade property either by way of Sale Deed, Tenancy Act or any other legislation into effect shall produce the same with their claim to the office of Deputy Collector, Sanguem for ascertaining their rights which are now transferred in the name of Government of Goa,” the Chief Minister Stated.
“Mere entry of name in the survey records does not give any proprietary rights to an individual, it needs to be supported with documentary evidence,” claimed Sawant while asserting that whoever person have done plantation or put a hut after the government having taken over the said lands will not be entitled for any relief for such encroached lands.
It is pertinent to note that the government has recently reverted in its name around 35 lakh square metres of land in Uguem and Kalay village which were hitherto owned, possessed and enjoyed by Sociedade Patriotica Dos Baldios Das Novas Conquistas.
Since then there has been uproar in Uguem village, many of whom had bought lands from Sociedade or had purchased the same under Tenancy Act.
The government while transferring the Sociedade owned lands in its name however did not spare the villagers who had purchased tenanted lands under Tenancy Act. There are others who have purchased housing plots from Sociedade through Sale Deeds. This has put the villagers into a nightmare and the very thought of their lands having been taken over by the government is giving the villagers sleepless nights.
Sawant who has been in Sanguem for his pre-election campaign visit met with the villagers at the Uguem Village Panchayat hall and gave a patient hearing to the villagers while assuring the villagers not to get worried about the portion of land held, owned and cultivated by them.
He however urged the villagers not to enter into any more contracts with the Sociadade or pay them any money as the lands which were purported to be owned by the Sociedade are actually government lands.
Based on the representation given by a villager, Sawant informed that the basalt quarrying operations done in the village will be stopped permanently in the very near future.
The villagers of Uguem submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister over the issues plaguing them since the time of the sudden takeover of the Sociedade lands by Government of Goa. Panchayat member Sanjay Parwar, Marcus Pereira and Maya Jangale briefed the Chief Minister on the issue.
