MARGAO
Betalbatim village witnessed an uproar on Monday after farmers complained that a housing project has blocked their access to their fields, demanding that the Panchayat first direct the real estate developer to provide way to the fields before issuing the occupancy certificate.
The farmers pointed out that the Panchayat hear the grievances of the farmers, including access to their fields and on the issue of sewage disposal by the project.
The farmers led by Feedol Pereira and others told the Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes, the panchayat secretary and the Panchayat members that the panchayat should resolve the issue of access to the fields before granting the Occupancy certificate.
They demanded to know how the farmers would get into their agricultural fields, which are being cultivated twice a year over the decades now if there is no clear access.
The project, sources said was started in the year 2005, before it was taken over by the present real estate development in 2019 before taking up the renovation in 2022.
Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes sought to clarify to the farmers that the panchayat delegation at the site not to conduct an inspection of the project for issue of occupancy, but to make observations in respect of the grievances of the farmers.
In fact, the Sarpanch pointed out that the developer has submitted an affidavit stating he would take care of the access to the farmers to go to their agricultural fields.
“The builder cannot backtrack on the issue of access to the fields for the simple reason that he had filed an affidavit promising to leave access of way to the farmers,” he said.
Incidentally, the builder told the farmers and the residents that the issue of access for the farmers can be resolved through mutual discussions by sitting across the table. The farmers, however, pointed out that the responsibility for leaving the access to the fields lies on the builder.
As far as the sewage discharge is concerned, the builder has maintained that the project has a Sewage Treatment Plant is in place and will treat the sewage generated inside and recycle the water for gardening.
