SANGUEM: The farmers on Sunday castigated Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Desai for proposing the pristine agricultural land in Cotarli, Sanguem for the IIT project, despite knowing that the project would cause damage to the environment and the agricultural plantations owned by the locals.
Despite Sanguem MLA’s statement that no private land or any portion of land owned by religious institutions will be acquired for the IIT project, the farmers continued their opposition to the proposed project for the second consecutive day by holding a second meeting within the precincts of the proposed land set to be acquired at Cotarli. The meeting was attended by over 300 farmers.
Nanda Mapari, a farmer, accused Phal Desai of giving false assurances and of taking the locals for granted.
Mapari said, “Phal Desai has no right whatsoever to impose the project on the people of Sanguem, The MLA should do a rethink and get the project shifted elsewhere.”
Mapari claimed that her field remained fallow despite Phal Desai’s assurance that he would provide funds to fence the field which was destroyed by stray cattle. The stray cattle menace has left many fields around the proposed IIT fallow for the last few years.
The speakers said that this does not mean that these paddy fields are not cultivated by the farmers. They demanded that the government shift the project elsewhere and vowed to continue with their agitation.
Mapari sought to know from Phal Desai as to where he would move the numerous peacocks that have made Cotarli their home.
Mapari questioned: “Where will all the animals that move around on the hillock go? What about the tributaries that adorn the mountains?”
