PONDA: A farmer from Kavlem has accused the Sewerage Corporation of cheating, as they have not delivered on the promises they made to acquire a large piece of agricultural land to build the 15-MLD Ponda Sewage Treatment Plant set to be inaugurated shortly.
Calling for Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to order a probe into the ‘grabbing’ of his land, Tukaram Kelu Gaude on Tuesday said that he lost his only source of livelihood when he gave away his agricultural fields at Dhavlim, Kavlem.
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“If the government cannot deliver on the promises they made six years ago, and fulfil my conditions now, it should demolish the STP built on my land measuring 3,200 sq mts in area, and return the land to my family so we can resume cultivation,” said Gaude.
He recalled how an AE from the Sewerage Corporation, Pradeep Gaude, visited his house frequently in 2016, asking his family to part with the land for the STP. “My brothers were assured compensation of Rs 12 lakh each for signing away the land, but I refused as agriculture was my source of livelihood. Pradeep Gaude made several trips and so many promises- he said he would ensure government jobs for two of my family members, and to provide an income for my family, the government would construct a hall on a piece of land I own near the highway, within six months of me issuing an NOC for the construction of the STP,” said Gaude.
When contacted, SIDCGL official Pradeep Gaude said that he had not assured the family any jobs, but was ready to issue them compensation. He admitted that the department had promised to construct a hall in return, but needed a clear title document of the plot for the same, which was not submitted. “I will inform my seniors about the farmers’ demands and resolve the matter,” he added.
