MARGAO: The forest officials’ denial that the houses of forest dwellers are not visible on Google Maps has invited the ire of the Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Babu Kavlekar, who said such “excuse” was denying the people settled before the 18th century from getting rights to their house and land.
He was addressing a meeting of officials from the Tribal Welfare, Forest Department and District Collectorate. The officials were later directed to handle and dispose at least 100 cases of Kumeri land each month.
Tribal Welfare Minister Govind Gaude and Revenue Minister Jennifer Monserrate, WRD Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Deputy Speaker Isidore Fernandes, Collector Ajit Roy and others were present.
The meeting reviewed in detail the Forest Rights Act cases as well as tribal land right cases, which have been going on for several years.
“Goa’s first Chief Minister Bhausaheb Bandodkar had started the process to give the Kumeri land to the poor. Several people have not got the rights to their land for numerous years. When Forest Rights Act came into force, people also applied under that Act to have right to their land. The problems need to be solved,” said Kavlekar.
Revenue Minister Jennifer Monserrate said, “Since my department plays a major role in this, I have instructed my department to work with other departments to expedite the process of cases which are ready but are stopped for minor reasons”.
60 cases will be taken up from Monday and review meeting will be held by the South Collector every week.
Alleging that the forest officials have been searching houses and settlements on Google Maps, Gaude said, “Not finding the houses does not mean that they don’t exist. “How does a village appear when mamlatdar and officials do a site inspection and how is that you don’t find it?”
