MAPUSA
With land grabbing cases making headlines and the real estate lobby eyeing prime properties in Assagao, the local comunidade has decided to intervene and strike a “caution” to prevent illegal sale of its land.
The Assagao comunidade has warned the public to desist from entering into any deal with the owners of at least one tenanted agricultural land in the village.
The land in question is a hill with cashew plantations and which has tenants.
The comunidade fears that the tenants who have stopped carrying out agricultural activity may sell the property for a price.
Issuing a public notice, the comunidade said that Prakash Harmalkar and three others have been declared as tenants of a property with survey no 159/1-B in Assagao comunidade.
It also said that the property with an area of 44,740 sq mtrs is an agricultural land and was purchased by the Harmalkars as tenants under Section 18K of the Goa, Daman and Diu Agricultural Tenancy Act.
“The general public are cautioned and prohibited from entering into any transaction in respect of the property with the Harmalkars. Any party entering into the transaction in respect of the property shall be doing so at his/her own risk and peril. The Comunidade of Assagao reserves its rights to initiate civil and criminal proceedings in respect of any such transaction,” the notice warned.
The notice was signed by Assagao comunidade President Ruildo D’Souza, Attorney Nelson Fernandes and Treasurer Marc De Souza.
“The land in question is a hill and comes under private forest. Recently, we have noticed some activity on the hill. The tenants who had purchased the land under the agricultural tenancy act have started clearing the place,” a member of Assagao comunidade told The Goan, on the condition of anonymity.
He said there has been hectic activity in the area with people coming to see the property which has raised suspicion among the members.
“We are caretakers of the land and therefore need to protect it. We had no other alternative but to act and issue the caution notice,” said Ruildo D’Souza, President of Assagao comunidade.
