MARGAO
Agitated farmers, landowners, and residents of Colmorod and areas on the south of the Margao railway station, in one voice, demanded a presentation on the controversial Master Plan 2041 for Margao regarding the proposals mooted in the Plan in the Margao South Zone.
The citizens resolved to organize a public meeting at Lohia Maidan and then march to the residence of Margao MLA Digamber Kamat seeking an explanation over the denial of a public presentation.
Following a call given by Congress leader and Shadow Council for Margao Convener Savio Coutinho, farmers and citizens gathered opposite the railway station to examine the south zone portion of the Master plan.
Addressing the people, Coutinho said it was mandatory for the authorities to give a presentation to the general public and explain in detail the Master plan. “Under-cultivation agricultural land is shown as commercial, while land where buildings exist is shown as agricultural land; this seems to be the most amusing feature of the Master plan,” Coutinho stated, making a strong demand for a public presentation and the handing over of the acquired fields back to the farmers.
Local farmer Claudius Dias said that Margao MLA Digamber Kamat had in the past given tall assurances of protecting the interests of the farmers who were cultivating the acquired fields. “But what is now proposed in the Master Plan is just the opposite. Initially, the MLA sought to rehabilitate houses in their fields, and in 2019 Sonsodo inert waste was supposed to be dumped here,” he recalled.
Dias added, “Following stiff resistance from the farmers and the support of the people, we managed to stall both attempts. In 2019, Kamat had further gone to assure us that since the purpose for which the land was acquired was not fulfilled, he would fight for the return of the acquired land; instead, however, he has come to dispossess us of our land through the Master plan.”
Social activist Jack Mascarenhas, representing Goenche Fudle Pilge Khatir, said that it was time for every citizen to come forward and fight to preserve our natural wealth for future generations.
It was decided that if the government and the authorities fail to give a public presentation to the public within a week’s time, a massive protest against the Master Plan will be organized at the Lohia Maidan in Margao followed by a march to the residence of Margao MLA Digamber Kamat.
