Salpem farmers against land acquisition

MARGAO, MARCH 9
The Salpem Tollem Xetkarancho Ekvott has requested the PWD Minister Churchill Alemao to drop the land acquisition proceedings and leave the fields in possession of the farmers.
They have also called for expediting the commissioning of the sewage treatment system for Margao to help stop the illegal dumping of raw sewage in the Salpem Lake and its fields.
Formed to protect the interests of Salpem lake farmers, the Ekvott had been strongly opposing the acquisition of their fields for the purpose of expansion of the sewage treatment plant serving Margao city and its buffer zone.
The farmers has contended that the PWD department has in their possession land admeasuring around 33,000 sq m of land, which they said is more than sufficient for the sewage treatment plant and its buffer zone for the next 30 years, but lamented that the government is acquiring three lakh sq mts of agricultural fields under the guise of public purpose.
Referring to the statement made by the PWD Minister that the fields would be release to the farmer for cultivation, the farmers have sought to know the reason behind acquiring the fields in the first place. “Shall the farmers then become illegal in their own fields? If the MLA changes and decides to give the land to a private party, what legal rights the farmers have?” they have demanded to know and requested the PWD Minister to drop the land acquisition process.