MAPUSA
Vowing to protect and preserve their fields for posterity, Candolim villagers on Monday decided not to allow conversion of agricultural land in the beach village and also not to permit any construction activity in the fields.
The locals also prayed for relaxation of coastal regulation zones (CRZ) rules to allow cutting of mangroves that have invaded into the fields.
Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik’s request to take up issues regarding Agriculture Policy at the Gram Sabhas on October 2 at best received lukewarm response as several panchayats in Bardez failed to take up a discussion on the policy.
Interestingly, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s online talk on Swayampurna Goem took most of the gram sabha time.
“The gram sabha has resolved not to allow conversion of agricultural land in the village. The locals also want permission to start a kitchen-garden and planting of fruit bearing trees in the fields,” Blaize Fernandes Sarpanch of Candolim told The Goan.
Pointing to the spurt in construction activity in the village, a local Anthony D’Souza stressed the importance of cultivating fields in the village.
“We need to give agriculture a push as most of our agricultural stuff comes from the neighbouring States which are sprayed with chemicals. For that to happen we need to stop conversion of agricultural land,” D’Souza said.
The resolution not to allow conversion of agricultural land was later proposed by Anthony D’Souza and seconded by John Nicholas and was passed unanimously.
Another resolution was passed to relax the CRZ rules to allow cutting of mangroves that have ingressed into the fields so that people can cultivate their fields.
“CRZ rules do not allow cutting of mangroves. But many mangroves have grown in the fields creating problems for villagers to cultivate. The villagers wanted the rules to be relaxed so that they are allowed to cut the mangroves to cultivate the fields,” D’Souza said.
The Candolim sarpanch also informed that another resolution was passed to write to mamlatdar to allow people access to the fields.
He said in some cases people cannot access their fields for various reasons and wanted the authorities to initiate action so that people can gain access to their fields.
The Calangute villagers demanded that the government should first restore all the fields wherever landfilling has taken place.
“We had written several letters to the agriculture department about landfilling activity in the fields but the department has failed to take action in the matter. They should restore these fields to its original position,” said Premanand Diukar, a resident of Calangute and President of Calangute Constituency Forum while debating on the agriculture policy at the gram sabha.
While Siolim-Marna, Tivim and Moira panchayats failed to take up any discussion on the agriculture policy, a passing reference of the policy was made in Aldona and Bastora panchayats.
Similarly, other village panchayats also evoked a low key response to the agriculture policy.
