Paroda locals oppose land acquisition for market

Paroda locals oppose land acquisition for market
HERALD NEWS BUREAU
PANJIM, JAN 16
The Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott (GXE) and other farmers from Paroda have vehemently opposed the government’s move to acquire a paddy field near the Paroda Church in order to construct a panchayat building and an market complex.
At a meeting organised near the Immaculate Conception Church at Paroda on Sunday, speakers claimed that the site was not conducive to the two projects as it is a flood-prone area.
They also expressed fears that any filling of the land would lead to the flooding of the nearby Paroda church during monsoons.
Addressing the farmers, GXE President Delip Hegde suspected that the government was keen to acquire the paddy field for vested interests.
“If the government goes on destroying paddy fields, time will come when we will face an acute food crisis,” said Hegde.
Christian Adivasi Sangatna President Remedio Rebello criticised the State government, claiming that it was working against the interest of the Aam Admi.
“South collector G P Naik, who is from Quepem, is fully aware of the dangers of floods and should have verified the facts before deciding to acquire the flood-prone area for the Panchayat building and market complex,” said Rebello.
He claimed that the government was out to destroy the identity of the tribal community, whose main livelihood is that of agriculture.
“The government’s policy of acquiring the paddy field of the poor farmer and planning a big project is to make the rich richer and the poor poorer,” Rebello said.
Addressing the meeting, advocate John Fernandes informed the farmers that the government has proposed to acquire an area of 8295 sq. mts. in survey 190, which is a flood-prone area during the moonsoons.
The area, which is proposed for acquisition for the construction of market complex and Panchayat Ghar, is shown as a flood-prone area by the Paroda panchayat in a report to the Salcete BDO under the disaster management plan
“Any proposal to acquire and fill such a area is a blunder on the part of the administration,” said Fernandes.
“If the area is filled to make a way for a market complex and Panchayat Ghar, the nearby Paroda church would get flooded during monsoons.”
Fernandes pointed out that an abandoned government school, adjacent to the present panchayat house, could be used to house the new panchayat office.
Manuel Lima, an affected farmer, claimed that the paddy field is their only livelihood and feared that they lives would be destroyed if the field is acquired by the government.
He appealed to all farmers to support their opposition to the acquisition of the paddy field.