In an unusual confrontation of sorts, the power sector and the farming sector have been vying for the same space in Calangute. The Calangute comunidade has now come to the rescue of the farmers by rescinding a provisional NOC granted to a proposed power sub- station in low-lying fields at Naikka Vaddo, Calangute.
While the proposed power sub-station at Naikka Vaddo has come to a grinding halt due to objection from Calangute farmers, the failure to expand power infrastructure could severely affect residents in Calangute.
According to sources in the electricity department, a sub-station catering exclusively to Calangute village had been proposed in low-lying areas near Bodkea Vhodd, based on recommendations of the Calangute panchayat.
“Calangute consumers have been receiving power supply from sub stations at Saligao, Nagoa and Candolim. With an increase in commercial activities, the need was felt to have an exclusive sub-station for Calangute,” said the source. “Accordingly, the department had proposed land acquisition for the project.”
Unhappy with the earlier comunidade community for granting a provisional NOC, a group of farmers petitioned the incumbent committee to revoke the NOC to acquire low-lying paddy fields as they were being cultivated by them.
They claimed that the proposed acquisition of low-lying paddy fields would have also destroyed the nursery of a local from Calangute.
In a relief to the farmers, comunidade officials called on electricity department officials and submitted a letter stating that the NOC granted earlier to the project had been revoked, following representations of farmers in the area.
The Calangute comunidade made itclear in its revocation letter that the provisional NOC dated January 17, 2013, had been revoked since the previous committee did not take the aggrieved farmers into confidence, especially since they were involved in cultivation of paddy fields for years.
Besides, the comunidade cannot give NOC to any developmental projects without the consent of farmers as the agricultural fields were tenanted, stated the committee.
“We have revoked the provisional NOC granted to the electricity department to set up a sub-station in low-lying paddy fields at Calangute, following a representation by farmers raising objections to the acquisition of their tenanted land without their consent,” Calangute Comunidade President Agostinho Proenca told Herald.
“There is a plant nursery in the allotted land, while farmers cultivate crops in the monsoon. So, how can we grant an NOC to any developmental project? We will not come in the way of farmers who are cultivating their paddy fields,” said Proenca.
Aware of the growing demands for better power supply in Calangute, Proenca added, “We are also not against development. We are aware that Calangute village requires a dedicated power sub-station to cater exclusively to consumers of Calangute. If the electricity department comes with a proposal for any barren land for the purpose, we will definitely consider it. But, we simply cannot grant an NOC for a power sub-station in agricultural land,” added Proenca.
