SELAULIM: There is yet no clarity when the 45 days, for the 40-year-wait for the Selaulim dam evacuees to get land and proper land status would end. On reality close to 60 days have passed, but the deadline given in haste has long been crossed with the Sanguem administration, not quite willing to hazard a guess on the fresh time frame, for this grand promise of solving a 40-year human interest issue to be closed
However, there is a new unexpected twist to the tale. As in most cases, it is politics.
Concerns have also been expressed by the Evacuees after the recent spat between Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, over the ‘land setting issue’ pertaining to the IIT project.
Political sources in the know stated that after the withdrawal of support by Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar to the BJP-led State government, moves have been afoot to change the Chairperson and members on the Rehabilitation Committee of the Selaulim dam evacuees
If at all, the Committee changes hands, the very say of Gaonkar on the issue will be minimised and the new members, might want to revisit some of the decisions earlier taken
People are still submitting their claims for Class 1 occupancy rights
Sources in the Office of the Deputy Collector Sanguem informed that after the two camps were conducted at the Rehabilitation colonies, people are still in the process of submitting their claims forms for Class I occupancy rights.
Dy Collector hasn’t managed to compile data in claims yet
Sources informed that as the claims are still pouring, the office of Deputy Collector could not compile the data as of now, to forward the same to the concerned departments for further process in the matter.
8 surveyors on site daily, to verify the vacant plots at the rehabilitated colonies
Survey operations are however still going on; at the same place it had initially started, with eight surveyors on site on a daily basis, to verify the vacant plots at the rehabilitated colonies.
The Evacuees, who were initially happy over the issue being finally taken up by the Government after 35 longs years, are now however, pondering as to whether things will move ahead as has been otherwise assured by the Government two months ago.
Manoj Paryekar, one of the affected evacuee lamented that the nomination of ‘wrong persons’ on the Rehabilitaiton Committee over the years has been equally responsible for the long delay in settling the issues concerning Selaulim Evacuees.
He also said that except for the Chief Engineer attached to the Water Resources Department (WRD), no other official in the Department is acquainted with the issues concerning Selaulim Evacuees; and that this hampers any move being undertaken by the government to settle the problems encountered by evacuees.
