Quepem farmers up in arms against land acquisition

QUEPEM, DEC 23
Tenants of Avedem-Paroda, who are cultivating paddy fields adjacent to Immaculate Conception Church Paroda, are reportedly gearing up to oppose land acquisition proposed by Paroda Panchayat for the construction of Panchayat Ghar cum market complex.
Paroda Panchayat through the Salcette Deputy Collector proposed to acquire an area of 8,295 sq mtrs in Paroda for the construction of panchayat ghar cum market complex, the area which gets flooded every year during the monsoon season.
In an objection filed before the Land Acquisition officer, the tenants claimed that they are from the Schedule Tribe community and being Tribals, who are voiceless and powerless, their fertile paddy fields, which are cultivated during the ‘Vigon’ season, are proposed for acquisition, even though there is barren land in that area.
“It is a move of the government to displace the tribals of their land, of their livelihood, the trend which is going on in other parts of Goa on the garb of public purpose and development,” states the complaint.
The complaint further stated that the proposed land is the only paddy field/land, which they are having and is the only source of their livelihood and acquiring it would mean denying them their right to life, guaranteed by Constitution of India.
“The proposed land is a paddy field/agricultural land that comes within the jurisdiction of Command Area of Paroda Irrigation Canal. Such a fertile cultivable land cannot be acquired for the construction of panchayat Ghar cum market complex when there are alternate barren lands available in the nearby area and within the jurisdiction of Paroda Panchayat,” stated the complaint.
“If the department goes on acquiring vast areas of fertile agricultural land like the present one, then we may face food crisis in the future,” stated the tenants.
The complaint further stated that the proposed acquisition is against Section 2 of Goa Land Use Regulation Act 1991, which states that “2. No land which is vested in a tenant under the provision of the Goa Daman and Diu Agricultural Tenancy Act 1964 (Act 7 of 1964) shall be used or allowed to be used for any purpose other than agriculture.” more so as there is alternate barren uncultivable land is available in Paroda Panchayat.”
“The proposed land is a low-lying area, which gets submerged under water at a height of about 3 mtrs during rainy season.”
“If such a low-lying flooding area is acquired and filled with mud to make way for the proposed project, then it will have adverse impact on the surrounding areas and the ecology. We undertake to produce evidence to that effect at a later stage.”
They sought to know why such a huge area of 8,295 sq mtrs is required for the construction of a panchayat Ghar when well-equipped panchayat Ghar can be constructed over an area of about 300 mtrs.
They further stated that there is no need of market complex for Paroda Panchayat, when the Avedem Panchayat market complex is at a distance of 500 mtrs from the proposed land and major portion of the complex remain idle due to lack of vendors.
Quepem Market, which is the main center for commercial activity for the villagers of Paroda and surrounding areas, is hardly at a distance of about 2 kms from the proposed area. The tenants have requested the deputy collector to drop the land acquisition proceedings.