Under the All India Lawyers Union, prominent advocates from the State as well as delegations from Gujarat have arrived in the State ahead of a two-day workshop for lawyers. The topic being ‘Hijacking the law for land grab in the name of development,’ several of the State’s prominent lawyers and activists voiced their opinion against the government’s amendment to the Tenancy Act that effectively denies tenants their right to land. They also raised questions about the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) Act and the concept of smart city.
Lawyer and activist Albertina Almeida questioned the government’s decision to back projects like the golf course in Tiracol that spelt disaster. “The government has made it very clear that they support the golf course but how many people are aware that as per the large revenue generation scheme, Leading Hotels are also being given a subsidy of Rs 50 crore? Why should a company that is worth crores be given subsidy and that too claiming that the land is barren. While they call it barren, locals earn a living from it,” she said.
She added that while smart city was a concept that was still young, it had the possibility of being more than that. Though only cities were to be part of this concept, she said the implications would be felt on surrounding villages.
Former Union Minister for law Ramakant Khalap also raised objections to the Agricultural Tenancy Act calling it anti-peasant and anti-farmer. “The Agricultural Tenancy Act of 1964 was something revolutionary because it was seen as a form of land security.”
but added that with the subsequent amendment and notification in the years that followed created a problem.
“The biggest problem was that during the time of survey, the planners did not look into the survey the Portuguese had done. Without proper checks, genuine owners were left out and people who weren’t tenants or owners got their names registered,” he said.
He also added that while the Land Revenue Code had safeguarded agricultural land only for agriculturists and farmers, there were vast amounts of such land that is being sold. Tiracol he said was the best example. And while ministers were vying for special status, Khalap pointed to how the original tenancy act would help solve issues related to keeping land for the locals and not being sold to outsiders.
