Around seven farmers have to part with their land as the government all of a sudden, has decided to take back the leased land which their ancestors have been cultivating for nearly 100 years now.
Seven farmers have to part with approximately 3,08,625 sq meters of land and as Herald spoke to them, they were in tears because the government deleted their names from Forms I & XIV without informing them.
BRIEF HISTORY
Originally the land in question was allotted to villagers by the Portuguese government in 1917, almost 100 years ago, for agriculture purposes.
However, in 1970, the then State government did a survey to check whether the land leased out is being cultivated or not. And sources say whoever was not cultivating the land, would have to forego it to the government.
Surprisingly, the possession and the Forms I & XIV continued to be in the name of lease holders, who until last year have regularly paid the lease to the government.
Now the villagers say that when the Electronic City was planned, the government citing the record of 1970, through additional collector Swapnil Naik issued a directive to the Mamlatdar to delete the names of the lease
holders.
No opportunity, whatsoever, was given to the locals to make amends.
“After 45 years, the government has suddenly woken up and says the land is being taken away,”says Uday Mandrekar, panch of Tuem Village panchayat.
Another villager, Viraj Naik says the government already has around 7 lakh under industrial area and are adding another 6 lakh to it.
“What is the requirement of such big industrial estates in the village when locals are not going to benefit in any way?” he asks.
GRAM SABHAS POSTPONED
Villagers of Tuem have threatened to pass a resolution against the project if the government does not come out clean on the issue.
A villager, who did not want to be named, says “Last two gram sabhas on the issue have been adjourned as people have various questions regarding the project.”
“First of all, we want to know how the population employed at the industries would be taken care of. There is already a shortage of water and electricity in the village. How would the government accommodate 25,000 more people? What are the benefits of the project for the locals? What would be the impact on the environment?” he questioned.
The villagers state that neither the Chief Minister, nor the departments concerned are giving any answers to the questions posed.
“Hence, we have said that if the government does not come out clean on the issue within 30 days, then the gram sabha will pass a resolution against the project,” they say.
Tuem Sarpanch, Prajakta Kannaik did not respond to any calls. One time she picked up the call, listened to the question and stated that she was in a meeting. But villagers say the panchayat members are all scared as the Chief Minister is personally involved in the project.
