The tension witnessed at the IIT site at Cotarli, Sanguem on Monday brings back memories of Shel Melauli, where villagers showed spirited unity and battled against odds. The issues faced at Shel Melauli bear a striking resemblance to the ones at Cotarli. The survey work undertaken at the new site faced stiff resistance from a group of farmers, primarily women. With locals going into prayer mode, followed by the singing of the national anthem, the agitation took a peculiar turn forcing the police on the back foot.
Much against the claims of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant that the land belongs to the government, farmers in the area have claimed that boundary marks have been put inside private plantations. Also, farmers have strongly contested local MLA Subhash Phaldesai's claim that the land is barren and free from any plantation. Villagers maintained that they have been cultivating the land comprising paddy fields for several decades, and the predominantly agricultural area supported people's livelihoods.
The fear and anxiety in the minds of the people of Cotarli are over them being displaced. The government is undermining the project's opposition and trying to force itself without addressing key concerns. Three points raise the level of unease among people. 1. The local MLA claims that the area in question is barren and devoid of plantations. 2. The demarcation marking is allegedly made in private plantations raising fears that the government would bulldoze its way. 3. The pitch raised by the government on IIT benefitting Sanguem and its development.
The script of the Cotarli agitation runs ditto like the Shel Melauli one, where an initial opposition of a handful grew exponentially to even take on the government machinery head-on before forcing the local MLA and the CM to beat a retreat. Against that backdrop, Phaldesai must understand that this opposition too cannot be undermined because when it comes to farmers and their land issues, there is easy traction and growing sympathy; besides, displacement issues are tough to handle.
On Tuesday, police swung into action by arresting a farmer for obstructing public servants under Section 186 and for criminal intimidation under section 506 (ii). The men in uniform are on the lookout for three others, and there are indications that the process of booking other farmers present at the site is likely to be initiated. The imposition of Section 144 within 200 metres of the proposed area only highlights the authoritarian posturing against protesters.
Lessons from Shel Melauli haven't been learnt, and the government is again showing high-handedness and extreme urgency to install the IIT at Cotarli. However, what is seriously lacking is crisis negotiations and a practical people-friendly consultative approach.
These are early days, and the government must get into engagement instead of unleashing the police force on people. Hostility can be counter-productive because it fosters greater unity among communities, as seen in Shel Melauli. Goa is watching.
