ASMITA POLJI
SURAJ NANDREKAR
TUEM: Amarnath Naik, who has been into agriculture throughout his life on tenanted land, suddenly one day finds his land taken over for a project without any compensation or intimation. Upon enquiries he finds that the 8500 sq metre of his land has been taken over for the approach road of the Tuem Electronic City. After months of fighting the government has offered him a compensation of just Rs 26,000.
Naik says, “The government has grabbed my land without any permission and any kind of documentation thus depriving me of my livelihood. My father’s name is present in the tenant column of Form I & XIV, giving the family rights to the land.”
Like Amarnath there are many others who have lost huge tracts of land for the project.
The electronic city a project by Goa government on area of 6.5 lakh square meters at Tuem Pernem to set up factories for the design and manufacturing of electronic and IT products at estimate cost of 75 crore is a major project, especially, to the youth because of the government’s promises to generate 50 thousand job employment which is one a sided dream.
Tuem locals say they welcome the project but feel those who lost land should be compensated with the market price. However, to their dismay they have been offered a meagre Rs 25 per sq metre when the market price is Rs 25000 per sq metre.
Alvara properties
There are many more farmers who were cultivating the alvara lease lands who have lost their livelihood. Dhondu Krishna Naik (52375 sq meter), Keshav Babaji Naik (56,975 sq mt), Ganu Naik (41,900 sq mt) and Pundalik Kandolkar (32,300 sq mt + 63200 sq mt).
“An electronic city is a major project which will largely create employment to our youth and also develop the whole taluka. We are not against development but the government should have followed proper process and means of acquisition of land with documentation and compensating the farmers,” said Kishor Naik a local of Tuem.
Naik says the land has been forcibly taken over by the government for the project from the Alvara lease holders. He said the government has deleted the names of the people who were using the land on lease and names are deleted so that need of compensating them does not arrive.
Naik further adds that according to rules if the Alvara property, leased to farmers by Portuguese government, is cultivated continuously for 10 years then they are deemed to be the occupants.
Inspite of this the government has forcibly reverted some Alvara lands even though were being cultivated.
“The action of government is totally illegal as a special committee set up by government has already certified that land were cultivated,” said Rajesh Naik, also a resident of Tuem.
“We don’t want development which will bring families on streets. If the government seriously wanted to do good of the people then it would have taken the people in consideration and would have taken decision which is beneficial to common man and not to corporatse,” said Uday Mandrekar.
Impact on elections
Added to the above, the recent amendment to the tenancy act has led every tenant to take to the streets to fight for their rights. Almost 80 percent Pernem/ Mandrem population is into agricultural tenancy, and this could have an impact in 2017 legislative election. However, while there is a stiff opposition to the development there are also people who are for it.
“We look at this government with some hopes because the previous government could not do anything during its rule. Today life has become more mechanised where in people are more into electronic good. Today we are importing the products but when we start producing it, everyone will affords to buy products,” said Abhijit Salgaonkar from Tuem.
He said the Electronic City will make things faster and easier for the new generation & employment will be an added factor
“Today most of the youngsters are unemployed since no jobs’ are available but this project will help them to fulfil their dreams,” he said.
