Gaunkars quiz managing committee over issuing show-cause notices to eight gaunkars who had challenged lease of land
MAPUSA
A handful of gaunkars of the Tivim Comunidade put the managing committee on the mat during its general body meeting, raising pointed questions over the rationale of leasing a large tract of comunidade land to a Maharashtra-based private university at what they termed a “throwaway” rate of Rs12.50 per sq metre.
Although a sizeable number of gaunkars from Kanapur were present for the meeting, it was a group of local gaunkars who dominated the proceedings, repeatedly questioning the managing committee over the controversial land deal for the proposed university project in Tivim.
The meeting, chaired by Comunidade President Leo Pereira, along with Attorney Savio Pereira and Treasurer Aloysius Sequeira, witnessed tense moments as the managing committee faced a barrage of questions from the floor.
“We are not against an educational institution coming up here, but why has comunidade land been given away at a pittance of Rs12.50 per sq metre? There are several locals who wish to purchase land. Will you give our villagers land at the same rate?” asked gaunkar Adrian D’Souza, drawing support from others present.
The gaunkars also questioned the managing committee over issuing show-cause notices to eight gaunkars who had challenged the lease of the land to the private university. The notices demanded that they collectively pay Rs7.10 lakh towards legal expenses incurred by the comunidade in defending the matter before the Bombay High Court.
“You want to do whatever you please and cannot tolerate dissent when someone questions your actions. Or is this an attempt to pre-empt our move to approach the Supreme Court?” another gaunkar asked.
Some gaunkars also alleged that the notices appeared to be an attempt to declare the dissenting members as debtors so that they could be barred from attending future general body meetings.
Questions were also raised over the failure of the comunidade to maintain proper minutes of general body meetings, with some gaunkars alleging that inadequate documentation could lead to manipulation of records.
The managing committee was further criticised for filing defamation cases against certain gaunkars over messages critical of the comunidade that were circulated among villagers.
Responding to the criticism, Attorney Savio Pereira said the decisions related to the private university had been taken by the previous managing committee.
He also informed the general body that the comunidade would not be able to pay Rs10,000 as the annual zon payment to gaunkars this year, and that the amount would instead be reduced to Rs8,000.Apart from Adrian D’Souza, gaunkars including Assumption D’Souza, Godfrey D’Lima, Mathew Sequeira, Thomas Sequeira and Cosme were among those who raised questions regarding the university project.
Escrivao Mohan Narvekar was also present at the general body meeting.
