SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2024
ALFRED FERNANDES
SANGUEM: The announcement of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant in the monsoon session of Goa legislative assembly that around 35 lakh sq mts of land is transferred in the name of Government of Goa from the erstwhile Sociedade Patriotica dos Baldios Novas Conquistas, Uguem village in Sanguem taluka descends discontent and disturbance in the otherwise peaceful atmosphere of Uguem Village.
No sooner it was announced large wooden fences emerged and divided the open land into pieces, which were hitherto possessed, enjoyed and cultivated by the Sociedade. Daily discord, complaints and counter complaints by the villagers among themselves have become the new order of the day.
Earlier last week, a villager who is supporting the government filed a complaint against another two villagers for allegedly cursing him and threatening with dire consequences. Incidentally, these two villagers were working for Sociedade and the complainant was allegedly in the process of putting a wooden fence barricade in the open land claiming to be his. This is followed by a counter complaint filed by the villagers in support of the two villagers. The matter was supposed to be discussed at the Sanguem Police Station but it was postponed by a day as the Police Inspector had some personal emergency to attend.
Few days ago, the villagers vented their anger against another villager who was in the process of collecting information from Mamlatdar and the local panchayat office against co-villagers and forward the same to the Government authorities.
Ironically, after the tall claim by CM Sawant on the floor of the house of government having all the requisite documents to confirm the ownership of the vast properties in Uguem and Kalay village, the government now seems to be on the lookout for documents to support its claim at the High Court of Bombay at Goa.
The Advocate General, on September 7, 2021, sought additional two weeks time in the High Court to file reply to the Writ Petition filed by Sociedade challenging the alleged overnight transfer of ownership of around 35 lakh square metres of land from Sociedade to Government of Goa.
The alleged arbitrary transfer of Survey Records was initiated by the Mamlatdar of Sanguem based on the memorandum issued by Collector South, which followed a letter issued by the Under Secretary seeking immediate and urgent reversal of survey records from the name of Sociedade to Government of Goa.
The reversal exercise of the survey records was allegedly based on a Government notification which was published in the official gazette way back in the year 1966.
The whole upheaval raised the question why the government didn’t put into effect the 1966 order for 54 long years. Moreover, questions are also raised over huge payments made by the Government during Manohar Parrikar-led BJP government to the Sociedade for acquisition of land for government projects.
Now people wonder why the government needs extra time to submit its reply and documents to the court. At the first hearing held on August 24, the Government had sought for a week's time following which the petition was slated for September 07. At the hearing held on September 07, the matter was once again adjourned at the request of the Advocate General appearing for Government for Goa.
No transfer of any ownership document is done without issuance of notices to the opposite party in normal cases. In the instant case no such notices were issued as the action was initiated under Section 91 of Land Revenue Code.
“However even in such a case, a notice ought to have been send to us as a matter of principal of natural justice,” said George D’souza, Power of Attorney holder for Sociedade.
More importantly, while undertaking the exercise of transfer of land from Sociedade to Government of Goa, the authorities did not spare the villagers who had purchased the tenanted lands from Sociedade following the tedious procedure of law. “We fought the cases in the Revenue Courts and finally got the orders in our favour with due orders from the Court of Mamlatdar and Deputy Collector. However, now we find our names to be recorded in the occupants’ column along with the Government of Goa. How can these happen?” questioned a villager Milton Dias.
Most of the villagers in Uguem are farmers and are predominantly dependent on agricultural income. They have vast lands under paddy cultivation, which they have been cultivating for generations together. However, the sudden change in the survey documents is now giving the poor villagers sleepless nights.
At a very recent visit to Uguem village, the villagers had submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister highlighting the consequences they have to face on account of the sudden decision resorted to by the Government.
In reply, Sawant had assured the villagers of getting their land issues resolved. He had also appealed the villagers to form a five-member committee after due consultation with the Deputy Collector of Sanguem and submit to the Deputy Collector whatever ownership documents they have in their possession.
The villagers, however, awry of the things that would follow if they part with their documents decided not to form the five-member committee and submit any documents to the government till the case is prejudice.
In another development, the villagers led by panchayat members Sanjay Parwar and Marcus Pereira submitted a memorandum to the Mamlatdar and also to the Deputy Collector Sanguem Ajay Gaude to immediately stop illegal operation of basalt quarries in the village, which they claim cause substantial damages to the villagers’ houses located at the distance of 200 metres from the quarries.
