PANJIM: St Inez Parish Priest Fr Albano Fernandes joined the silent protest organised by the concerned citizens and farmers under the banner Save Our Field in Taleigao (SOFT), who are protesting against illegal construction in the low-lying fields within the panchayat jurisdiction, as the activity has adversely affected farming.
The farmers, members of the Taleigao Comunidade and other individuals have been protesting against the construction of panchayat ghar in the middle of the field, which led to the arrests of more than half a dozen protestors in August. The case is also filed before Goa Lokayukta.
Speaking to the reporters, parish priest said that the government and local MLA should listen to the woes of the farmers and give back their land.
“It is very important that we respect nature and the farmer. Destruction of nature and environment is painful. And it is our duty to stand against this destruction,” he said.
Fr Albano said that people are protesting to save their fields and that he extends his support to the people. “When the farmers are demanding that their fields be given back, it is the duty of the elected leaders to respect their sentiments,” he said. The villagers are protesting against the construction of panchayat ghar by filling up the fertile agriculture land. They charged that the village panchayat has illegally and fraudulently trespassed into the fields bearing survey Nos 53/5 and 12.
