Team Herald
MAPUSA: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has issued notices to Mapusa Chief Town Planner and the concerned government officials for deleting the names of 1,300 farmers from four constituencies including Mapusa from the land use register.
The land use map and land registration plan of Mapusa is prepared violating the Town Planning Act.
President of Shree Bodgeshwar Xetkari Sangh Sanjay Barde informed that a petition is filed by Bodgeshwar Xetkari Sangh along with Kamarkhajan Tenant Association, Goa Foundation and Goa Bachao Abhiyan challenging the deletion of the farmers’ names at Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court and accordingly the High Court Bench issued notices to the Mapusa Chief Town Planner and the concerned government officials.
Barde accused the government of plotting to usurp the rights of farmers in the State, including Mapusa and Panjim.
He alleged that the North Goa Planning Development Authority changed the colour on the map from Green to orange or blue for development and to change the zoning.
Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation said, “The government has implemented the Regional Plan and then the External Development Plan according to the Land Registration Map and Land Use Registration Plan. Apart from this, forest lands at Kamarkhajan, Acoi, Dhamade and Xhelpe are not mentioned in the plan. Also, the farm lands of khajans and clans are not shown. These three places are important for maintaining the biological and ecological balance of the town and removing this from the plan clearly shows the intentions of the government. We have pointed out this to the High Court Bench.”
Alvares also said that the C-One Zone should be de-recognised. The draft was opened for suggestions and objections during Ganesh Chaturthi and COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have gone to the Court and will continue the agitation,” he added.
