Metal gate at Mandur tenanted land kicks row

Panaji: In an alleged attempt at grabbing tenanted comunidade land in a green patch of a forest area at Mandur, unidentified workers have erected a metal gate after razing a gadga wall at the site.

Following a complaint by the tenant, Ramkrishna Naik of Neura, alleging trespass into his property, Azossim-Mandur panchayat has issued a stop work order and showcause notice to an unidentified person.

The brazen activity to erect the gate in Naik’s tenanted property created a buzz in the area and St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar visited the spot with govt officials.

“Naik is a tenant in this property belonging to Mandur comunidade. There was a fire here and trees had been cut two years ago.” Borkar said. He suspected it to be a land-grabbing attempt. He said the security staff at the site had no proper identity cards.

Activist Ramrao Wagh, who also visited the spot, said that this activity may be a part of a bigger plan. “The erection of a metal gate could be to make plots and change the land use to settlement,” he said.

The panchayat has directed the unidentified person to produce construction permissions and other approvals within a specified period.