PONDA: Tukaram Kelu Gaude is getting many official visitors these days. Earlier they came to take away his paddy field to a Sewage Treatment Plant, and now PWD officials with police force and labourers laid four demarcation stones around his house; to acquire his land for a four-lane road widening.
In lieu of the paddy field, Gaude was promised by the Sewage Corporation a 1,000 seating capacity hall at Dhavalim for giving up his land for the STP. The government failed to fulfil that promise and even inaugurated STP by deploying a police force a year ago.
The cruelty didn’t stop there. “My family member was given a temporary job by the Sewerage Corporation but was later the services were terminated without any explanation,” he said.
Now it’s double jeopardy. The second tragedy has struck. An emotional Tukaram Kelu Gaud cried out, “Without any notice and using police force, by laying demarcation stones in my property for land acquisition, is total injustice. How can the PWD acquire my land without informing me? The PWD should drop plans to acquire land for the four-lane widening at Dhavali. If land is to be acquired then it should be on both sides of the road. Looking at my economically weak status, they have targeted me by acquiring land at only one side of the road,”
Speaking to O Heraldo, this farmer from Dhavli, could not hide his grief. He said “My family earlier lost a paddy field for setting up 15 MLD STP plant at Kavlem and now we fear of losing our house and livelihood for the four-lane widening at Dhavali.”
Gaude said, “The PWD NH officials along with police force and labourers entered my property, conducted surveys and laid four demarcation stones for acquiring land around his house and nearby land. My wife was in tears and feared that we would lose the land on which we had constructed a new house. Our dreams to run a small shop were shattered, when the officials laid the demarcation stones on the land without notice.”
Staring at a dark future, the family has strongly objected to the land acquisition and has pleaded with PWD authorities to drop the land acquisition plan.
The house located on the roadside is almost 20 metres from the main road at Dhavali.
Gaude said, “It appears that the PWD wants to save buildings on the other side of the road. Six years ago, the government laid the foundation stone for 15 MLD STP at Kavlem. Now, once again, the PWD is acquiring my land where I was promised a hall for my family. This is like rubbing salt into my wounds.”.
Tukaram said, “The house property is located in Form 1/14 in Survey No 26/2. My ancestors Tilu Savlo Gaude and Saju Gaude were registered in this survey as landowners besides other owners. I am in possession of said land and that said property is recorded in his grandfather’s name as per Portuguese document. The government should at least save my house from NH expansion.”
When questioned, an official, who conducted the demarcation survey, said, “The land acquisition notice was published in the Official Gazette, which listed several affected owners. The survey was for an eight km road upto Loutolim.”
Meanwhile it is learnt that as per procedure, the government issued notices to those registered in Form 1/14, published in Official Gazette and newspapers. If mutation of legal heirs is not done after the death of the landowner, then legal heirs need to file objections before appropriate authorities. The Borim Bridge notice was published in newspapers more than one year ago.
