Team Herald
SANGUEM: The rehabilitated villagers of the Selaulim irrigation project have urged the government to direct the Selaulim Rehabilitation Committee to hold a meeting immediately, which the Selaulim evacuees claim to have not been held for last seven years.
Manoj Paryekar, a former member of the Selaulim Rehabilitation Committee, informed that though the meeting of the Selaulim Rehabilitation Committee used to be conducted every year, since last seven years, the government has failed to conduct the meeting thereby denying the Selaulim evacuees an opportunity to place their grievances before the government.
Paryekar claimed that due to non-conduct of the meeting since last seven years, the problems faced by the evacuees continue to remain unsolved as of date even after decades of the construction of the Selaulim dam.
The primary issue that needs immediate solution is the allocation of residential and agricultural plots to the 89 missing families.
It is pertinent to note here that these 89 families who were originally inhabitants of Curdi which subsequently submerged under Selaulim waters did not get their names listed in the survey conducted by the department officials during the construction of the Selaulim Dam. Therefore, they were not provided either an agricultural plot or a residential plot despite being the members of the affected families.
Subsequently, a resurvey was conducted. However, even after several meetings, the 89 missing families still waiting for the government order for the allocation of agricultural and housing plots.
Meanwhile, some evacuees whose allotted plots got submerged under Selaulim Dam are also still awaiting allotment of alternate plots of land.
There are others who enjoy double benefits under the Rehabilitation Scheme. In addition to a lump sum compensation of Rs 4 lakh, these people continue to enjoy the benefits of the agricultural plots which they had surrendered to the government for one time compensation of Rs 4 lakh.
Paryekar informed that there is a vacant land of about 20 acres at the rehabilitation colony at Valkini which the government could allocate to some of the 89 missing families. However, the problems faced by the 89 missing families continue to get postponed at every meeting convened by the government.
Another major problem faced by the Selaulim evacuees and which needs immediate solution is the encroachment made by the allotees of the agricultural land at Wadem Colony No I, II and III. The affected farmers alleged that the area which was reserved for the construction of internal road, has been encroached on by the adjoining plot owners thereby making it difficult for the cane cultivators to take machinery and trucks to their plots to transport sugarcane at the time of harvesting and do other farm works.
The evacuees have also complained that the government has failed to repair the internal roads to residential colonies. In addition, some evacuees are also facing drinking water problems.
