TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: When Manohar Parrikar was the Chief Minister of Goa, residents of Rawanfond through their MLA and Minister Avertano Furtado had knocked his doors for their rehabilitation and protect them from further displacement.
But after his elevation as Defence Minister to the Centre, questions are raised whether his intervention will help protect the interests of the 50-odd families from Rawanfond, who were settled on land admeasuring 52,000 sq mts after their original land was taken over by the military to set up a camp soon after Liberation.
In fact, when the Navelim MLA took up the issue with the Defence Minister during his visit to the national capital, Parrikar immediately spoke to the Director General of Defence and sought a detailed report on the Rawanfond land by February 11.
“I am hopeful that with Parrikar at the helm of Defence, a solution will be found out to the land issue facing the people of Rawanfond”, Avertano said.
In fact, within 24 hours after the Defence Minister spoke to the Director General of Defence on Tuesday, a team of Defence officials descended on Rawanfond for an inspection of the area inhabited by the 50-odd families. “We have provided the defence team the plans and other details concerning the land in question”, Avertano said.
Replying to a question, the Navelim MLA said the beleaguered inhabitants were shifted and settled at their current place of residence when the military set up a camp at Rawanfond in 1963. “But, it has now come to light that the inhabitants were rehabilitated on the land in question without acquisition of the land. The land lord has now moved the courts for eviction of the people.,” he said.
