The Carbot, Mascasana & Bebdo Tenants Association, Loutolim, has issued a detailed response to allegations made by the Comunidade of Loutolim regarding farmers who met Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai over tenancy rights issues.
Farmers expressed dissatisfaction over the comunidade’s references to Pinheiro’s position as a retired government official, pointing out that he is fighting the case as a farmer and Association President. They rejected claims about their motivation, stating they continue fighting to save khazan lands that would be destroyed by the proposed bridge.
Albert Pinheiro, president of the Tenants Association, acknowledged that most farmers who approached the MLA have not filed tenancy claims before the Mamlatdar. However, he clarified that he filed a tenancy case in 2021 under Sections 7 and 14 of the Goa Daman and Diu Agricultural Tenancy Act 1964, seeking transfer of tenancy inheritance from his late grandmother Inacin Fernandes and maternal aunt Piedade Gomes.
Pinheiro stated that his inheritance claim was based on Form I&XIV records showing his grandmother’s name on survey number 439/13 and his maternal aunt’s name on survey number 433/5 of Carbot khazan. He said he was not aware if his maternal aunt was declared as a tenant on comunidade records, but relied on the official forms showing her as a tenant.
On July 4, 2023, he had written to the Escrivao clerk requesting Registration Certificates for the two paddy fields. The comunidade has not issued the certificates or replied. A follow-up letter was sent to the Administrator of Comunidade Salcete Margao on September 13, 2024, but no reply has been received.
Addressing the timing of farmers’ certificate requests, Pinheiro pointed out that farmers had written to the comunidade on September 12, 2023, requesting Registration Certificates, while the acquisition notification was published on October 19, 2023. He said accusing farmers of seeking certificates only for compensation purposes was incorrect as their requests preceded the acquisition notification by almost a month.
Regarding allegations that farmers approached the land acquisition officer willing to surrender fields for full compensation, Pinheiro called this “confusing and not acceptable”. He explained that in the acquisition process, the comunidade is shown as occupant and others as tenants, making the entire compensation to tenants legally untenable. He challenged the comunidade to disclose the names of farmers who allegedly approached the land acquisition officer.
Pinheiro stated that farmers have been seeking tenancy rights transfer for years and had approached Bicholim MLA Premanand Shet to raise their issues in the legislative assembly. He recalled that farmers had earlier met Sardesai who voiced their concerns regarding farmers’ opposition to the Borim Bridge construction and khazan field acquisition. He further pointed out that with the matter now at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) with final hearing scheduled for July 21, raising the issue with the MLA did not arise.
Pinheiro referenced successful precedents from 2000 when tenancy cases were accepted and orders passed.