MAPUSA: Removal of mud from fields along the newly constructed and widened link road connecting Marna to Sodiem-Siolim has drawn the ire of farmers here who charged that they were not taken into confidence by the contractor while going ahead with the construction of the road.
Vociferously speaking on behalf of the farmers, Fatima Fernandes, a farmer and social activist questioned the locus standi of the contractor for excavating mud from the fields without taking the consent of the village farmers. “Work order was passed only for improvement of existing road. As per the work order, the contractor was supposed to acquire the land before tendering the work. Without acquiring the land, the tender is floated, road widened and they are calling it improvement. Improvement does not mean extension and widening. Now they are removing the mud from the fields to construct ramps and have not taken the consent of all farmers. Before starting the work, they should have called for a meeting which is not done,” Fernandes charged
Eknath Pednekar another local however defended the contractor.
“When the construction work of the road had commenced, the existing mud was removed and was dumped in the adjacent fields. The road stands completed and the contractor is clearing the dumped mud. There is a provision four ramps for farmers to enter into the fields. Instead of shifting the mud to some other location, the contractor is using the same to construct the ramp but some people feel that mud from the fields is being removed,” said Pednekar.
