Davorlim serves ultimatum on govt over land acquisition

Davorlim serves ultimatum on govt over land acquisition
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, SEPT 14
Davorlim villagers on Tuesday virtually served a 15-day deadline on the government to come out clear on the land acquisition proposal to acquire land admeasuring 1.15 lakh sq mts for the proposed multipurpose utility project.
Villagers who came in large numbers as usual to celebrate the feast of the Holy Cross, located on the ancestral land sought to be acquired by the government, expressed their total unhappiness over the government’s move.
A villager Paulo Colaco told newsmen after the feast of the Holy Cross, that the government cannot just acquire the land of their ancestors.  He said that people come to the cross on two occasions, one to celebrate the feast of the Holy Cross and for the Way of the Cross and demanded to know why the government wanted to forcibly take away the land of their ancestors.
“The government has till date not disclosed as to what it intends to do on the acquired land,” he said, adding that the land was protected and preserved by the ancestors for posterity.
Former Sarpanch Martin Rocha said that the villagers are getting restless over the government’s move to acquire the land with each passing day. “The villagers are demanding that the government is served a 15-day deadline to scrap the land acquisition proposal or to come onto the streets,” he said.
Rocha said the Panchayat body would meet in the next few days to chalk out the future course of action, including convening a special gram sabha to take a final decision on the issue.
He recalled that the Panchayat had handed over representations on many occasions to stay away from the land, but lamented that the government intends to acquire the land against the wishes of the villagers.
Another villager, Antonetta said the government has till date not placed before the villagers for perusal. “The villagers are still in the dark over the projects coming up on the land. The villagers are agitated that the age-old Holy Cross does not find a mention in the plan”, she said, while reiterating the demand for reserving the communidade land for the benefit of the villagers.