Speaking on the issue, Ryan Braganza, Chairperson of the Mapusa Municipal Council said,” The footpaths and parapets were constructed almost six to seven years back. No new construction has been carried out during this five years term. In 2013-14, when the footpaths and parapets were constructed by acquiring the land and following proper procedures, the farmers didn’t raise any objections. The objections should have been raised when the construction work had started.
Commenting on the deletion of 1,300 tenants names from the Land Use Register, Braganza said,” The Municipality and PDA have no role to play in the deletion of names. The issue of ownership is looked after by the revenue department and mamlatdar. Also a delegation headed by Sanjay Barde who is the president of Shri Bodgeshwar Xhetkari Sangh had given us a representation regarding this issue. Following which, I had told Barde to make list of names of all the farmers whose names are deleted and submit it to me for further action but till date this delegation have not come to me”.
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When the Mapusa MLA Joshua Dsouza was asked to comment about the deletion of the 1,300 tenants names, he said, “The entire land use map has been made by a consultant who is from some other state. So he does not know who the actual owner of which property is. Whatever data he had, as per that data the draft is made. The deletion of names of the tenants from the land use map, technically doesn’t have any implication on the ownership. The names can be restored if they submit it to PDA and it is not a problem.”
He further added, “Even in some properties, which are owned by me, there even my name has been deleted. PDA is not the deciding authority to say who has the right to the property. PDA can only decide how the land can be for most optimal development.”
When questioned about the blocking of access road to fields due to construction of footpath and parapets, Joshua replied saying, “Let the farmers file the objection, we will find a way out for them”.
