Uguem locals refuse CM’s 5-member panel idea

Quepem: A day after chief minister Pramod Sawant suggested the formation of a five-member committee by

Uguem

locals to pursue the

land

matter with the deputy collector, around 200 locals on Sunday unanimously decided not to do anything of the sort till the matter is decided in court.

On Saturday, the

CM

requested locals to submit their documents to the deputy collector’s office for the process of verifying documents and the deletion of the government’s name, which was recently included.

TOI has earlier reported how the government used a 1966 order to reclaim 36 lakh sq m of land. This move sprouted strong opposition, as locals alleged that this was done without sending notices to tenants and single owners other than the Sociedade Patriotica dos Baldios Novas Conquistas.

After the chief minister’s

suggestion

about the five-member committee, two panchayat members, Sanjay Parwar and Marcus Pereira, called a meeting of affected residents on Sunday night to form the committee.

However, residents decided to seek legal advice, and, if necessary, approach the high court against the government’s decision to include the government’s name in form I&XIV without sending notices as required by law.

Pereira said that the people would not get any rights if the government wins the case.

“A few years ago, the Uguem panchayat had resolved to construct toilets for labourers who are working near the Selaulim dam (under the water resources department) but till date, the government has not issued the NOC. If this is the case for labourers, what will be the fate of locals?” he asked.

Pereira stated that locals would get more benefits if the land goes back to the Sociedade.

“We will commence a rasta roko agitation along with the locals if the government fails to give our rights back within two months after the court’s judgment,” said Parwar.

“The government should not force us to go ahead with this extreme step.”


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