Threaten to disrupt Canacona’s administration functioning
CANACONA, MAY 28
BJP activists led by Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar on Friday swarmed the deputy collector’s building compound demanding immediate desilting of paddy fields destroyed during the October 2 floods.
They have threatened to disrupt the functioning of Canacona’s administration if authorities fail to respond to their demands within the next five days.
About 200 people, belonging to farming community from Gaondongrim and Cotigao, marched with placards to the Deputy Collector’s office, demanding an explanation for the failure of authorities to attend to their paddy fields or to extend monetary benefits to them to repair and rebuild their houses destroyed in the last October floods.
“The rains are knocking at our doors now, but where is the rehabilitation which was assured by the government,” asked the farmers.
“Neither our paddy fields, which are buried with silt, are freed, nor our houses which collapsed are attended,” cried the farmers.
Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar reminded the administration that Chief Minister Digambar Kamat time and again gave various assurances of reaching help to the farmers community.
“But except for Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 paid to the farmers for destruction of paddy crops and initial Rs 12,000 paid to farmers houses suffered damages during floods, no other compensation is paid nor their fields are cleared from the debris,” said Tawadkar.
The slogan shouting crowd was not allowed to enter Deputy Collector’s building, as a strong police force kept them at bay.
Later, Deputy Collector Deepak Dessai heard the grievances listed out by Poinguinim MLA, who demanded to solve them within five working days or else the MLA threatened to disrupt the working of entire Deputy Collector’s and Canacona Mamlatdar’s office.
“We will not allow officials to even open the Canacona’s administrative complex door and not allow any staff or officers to function, if our demands are not attended within the permitted time,” Tawadkar told the deputy collector.
Initially, it is learnt that the rally was proposed by flood-affected farmers from these regions, but it turned out to be political organized protests with protestors wearing BJP caps and placards having the saffron logo led by that parties MLA.
Later, Dessai told scribes that he will bring the grievances listed by the farmers to the notice of the government through the Collector.
