MAPUSA
The Kul Mundkar Sangharsh Samittee has urged the North Goa Collector and revenue authorities to strengthen the implementation of the Goa Agricultural Tenancy Act and Land Revenue Code, alleging that inadequate field-level monitoring could leave agricultural land and cultivators vulnerable.
In a memorandum submitted to the Collector on the eve of ‘Land Tillers’ Day’, the organisation sought stricter scrutiny of tenancy cases, systematic surveys of agricultural cultivation and stronger revenue administration across Pernem taluka.
A key demand is that no negative declaration regarding tenancy should be issued mechanically or solely on the basis of revenue entries or documents produced by one side.
The samittee called for proper inquiries into actual cultivation, possession, crop history, Form I & XIV records, tenancy documents, statements of neighbouring cultivators and, wherever necessary, physical inspection of the land.
It also called for revenue authorities to act against illegal filling or levelling of agricultural land, hill cutting, unauthorised construction, encroachments and diversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes.
The organisation has demanded a village-wise and survey-number-wise physical survey of cultivated land, recording the actual cultivator, crops, irrigation status, fallow area and disputes over possession.
It said crop inspections by talathis should be implemented meaningfully rather than treated as a routine revenue formality.
The memorandum further seeks accurate and transparent maintenance of Form I & XIV and the Register of Cultivators and Crops, along with greater field-level supervision by talathis and revenue inspectors.
Seeking faster resolution of tenancy disputes, the samittee has called for identification of cases pending for more than one, three and five years, regular hearings, fewer adjournments and timely, reasoned orders.
It has also urged authorities to invoke Section 46A of the Tenancy Act suo motu where there is credible information about violations, even in the absence of a formal application.
Among other demands, the samittee sought adequate talathi staffing in every Pernem village and a village-wise monitoring system tracking cultivated and fallow land, pending tenancy cases, encroachments and unauthorised land use.
The organisation said ‘Land Tillers’ Day’ should become an occasion for reviewing the implementation of tenancy laws and protecting the rights of actual cultivators.
