MARGAO: A sigh of relief and a feeling of content could be seen on the faces of the people of Firgulem as they got the title papers to their land after 56 years of uncertainty and hardships. The people thanked Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro for following up the issue and also the Revenue Minister Jennifer Monserrate for having fulfilled her assurance in time.
Jennifer, along with Luizinho, Collector Ajit Roy, IAS and other officials handed over 54 Sanads to Aquem Baixo and Firgulem residents who were displaced from their land due to 3 MTR military camp. The land of 76 families was taken away for defence purposes. The people were given land to construct houses. The people of Firgulem, Navelim had to reportedly pay compensation for the above in the year 1964.
The issue has been brewing up despair among the people after several notices were issued by Directorate of Panchayats to the residents some of who claimed to be the relatives of the owners of the land which was given to the families. After approaching all the appellate courts and winning the cases the people failed to get the title to the land.
After the intervention of the Former Defence Minister of India late Manohar Parrikar, Private Member Bill by Former MLA and Minister of Navelim Avertano Furtado in October 2016 and the efforts of the present MLA Luizinho Faleiro has now given people title to their land.
One of the family members who received the title papers Magdalene Vaz said “We were tied by the hands of the laws and rules. We couldn’t construct or repair our houses and lived in uncertainty for the last 56 years. The lives of my mother and father in law have gone by in this uncertainty,” said Magdalene. She said that everyone who has got their papers is very happy and have thanked the Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro for having placed the same before the Goa Legislative Assembly and giving the work a much needed boost.
