Cong alleges scam in auctioning of sluice gates

MAPUSA: Alleging scam in the auctioning of sluice gates managed by the Tenants Association of khazan lands, Porvorim Block Congress on Thursday demanded that the order cancelling the auction which was allegedly issued at the behest of the then Revenue Minister, Rohan Khaunte be revoked at the earliest.

Serving a seven-day ultimatum, the party has demanded that Revenue Minister, Jennifer Monserrate immediately revoke the order cancelling the auction and commence the auctioning the sluice gates across Goa failing which the party has threatened to mobilise its workers and farmers from Pernem to Canancona to gherao the office of the District Collector.

It may be recalled that the Government in December 2018 had abruptly cancelled all auctions of the sluice gates in the State. The cancellation of auction caused loss to the tenants association and the farmers all across the state to the tune of several lakhs of rupees. 

Porvorim Block Congress Committee president Adv Shankar Phadte alleged that as a result of the cancellation of auction process, which was illegal on the part of the Government, there were rise in criminal activities at the sluice gates triggering creation of fish mafia in the State. 

“There are around 500-700 sluice gates in Goa generating an average income of at least Rs 15 lakhs a year. Taking account of the above figures, this scam runs into crores of rupees and has robbed the Goan farmer of their rightful income. The order cancelling the auction was issued at the behest of the then Revenue Minister, Rohan Khaunte, who is responsible for the scam. The scam is a direct assault on Goan culture and Goenkarponn,” claimed Phadte, addressing the media persons at the North Goa District Congress office at Mapusa.

“Besides sabotaging the process of auction the government has also destroyed the bundhs by following non-conventional methods of restoration and repairs. The bundhs, which are agriculturally fertile and known for growing local vegetables such as vall, bhendi and tendli particularly in Salvador do Mundo area have been destroyed and rendered infertile,” he alleged.

The acts of the fishing mafia amounts to criminal trespass and theft of the fish produce of the farmers. The ecology and farming practices have been disturbed and this has direct bearing on the socio-cultural and economic life of Goans, he charged.

He further claimed that the Serula Shetkari Tenants’ Association had complained to the Porvorim PI and the Bardez Mamlatdar but no action has been taken.

When asked for his comments on the issue, former Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte said, “The people who addressed the press conference don’t seem to have knowledge on the subject. Every issue they raise they call it a scam. It looks more like they are interested in maligning me than actually talk on the subjects with depth. I condemn such acts of self advertising by people trying to get fame by using a national political party banner. It looks more like a joint venture with some for selfish gains. I will give more details on the subject in a few days. I am surprised that they are not talking on issues such as Serula scam but are rather following in raising same issues I raised in the last assembly like traffic issues, etc.”