Sanguem: On August 29, Revenue Minister Jennifer Monserrate, on a visit to Selaulim, had promised to resolve all outstanding issues of the evacuees of the Selaulim dam project; the topmost being land and sanads not allotted to about 71 landless families and sanads for those who were allotted for plots in lieu of their rehabilitated land also coming under submergence during the increase in the dam height.
She had promised that all these pending issues would be resolved in 45 days. 16 days have passed. 29 days are remaining
Sixteen days have already elapsed since day one of commencement of resurvey operations to identify open plots and places at the rehabilitated colonies at Wadem village in Sanguem,
Deputy Collector Sanguem Ajay Gaude who spearheads the movement from the Revenue Department side, is optimistic of getting fulfilled the assurance given by the Government within the stipulated period of time.
Gaude, told Herald, “The work is progressing in the right direction and as anticipated by all concerned. A total number of six surveyors attached to the Inspectorate of Survey and Land Records, are on site, undertaking the survey operations on daily basis. I have been taking the review of the progress done on this front on weekly basis.”
“The Revenue Minister and the Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar are also constantly following the matter to get updates,” added Gaude.
He further stated that the Revenue Minister has asked WRD to assist the Office of Deputy Collector, Sanguem on every aspect concerning resurvey operations and identification of open lands and also providing fillers with respect to the names of the Selaulim Evacuees who are yet to be provided with any benefits even after over 40 years of their displacement.
The deputy collector added that giving sanads to the affected families who have already been allocated plots, to be their main aim, along with the solving of issue pertaining to the allocation of plots to missing families and providing Class -I status to those who are already in possession of housing and agricultural plots as Class -II occupants.
“I have already prepared the draft of the Sanad and also the necessary correspondence that would go to the other departments during the process of solving the long pending issues of Selaulim Evacuees,” claimed Gaude.
Meanwhile, the Selaulim Evacuees who have been eagerly waiting for the allocation of Sanad for over the last three decades, have pinned some hope in getting the Sanad in the very near future if not within a period of 45 days as assured by the Government.
Similar hope is also by the missing families who are yet to be allotted a housing and agricultural plot considering the fact that WRD has vacant land in the village.
Another problem: Land potentially earmarked for beneficiaries now heavily encroached
The problem now, however, remains of the encroachment being done by the beneficiaries on these vacant portions of land. The plantation, which is undertaken by the beneficiaries on the vacant plots, is now over thirty years old and it is seen as a major source of income for many families.
The revenue authorities may also have to undergo the process of law to get the land back if the encroachers fail to part with the encroached portions of land amicably.
Incidentally, the issue of getting the Selaulim Evacuees problems settled after around 40 long years is also gaining political importance in Sanguem. While presently MLA Prasad Gaonkar is at the helm of affairs and had set the ball rolling for the resurvey operations, former MLA Subhash Phaldessai has taken to social media, claiming that he had been following the issue since he was an MLA.
However, the ground reality is that the issue is beyond politics. After a wait of 40 years, no one is really expecting results. If this is pulled off, it will be nothing short of a miracle.
