PANAJI: The State government appears to be on a sticky wicket over moves to lease out a portion of acquired land to the world's richest cricket body, BCCI, and its state affiliate, Goa Cricket Association (GCA), at Dhargal-Pernem. THE LAND ACQUISITION TANGLE
Affected farmers in Pernem taluka are set to slog out a legal innings against the government by challenging the decision to hand over 1,89,930 sq mtrs of a totally acquired 9 lakh sq mtrs of land at Dhargal for the proposed 'Sport City'.
Incidentally, the matter pertaining to land acquisition of 'Sports City' is currently pending before the Bombay High Court at Goa.
When Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar was sports minister during the then Congress government, he had taken the lead to construct a 'Sports City' in Dhargal and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who was opposition leader at that time, had vociferously opposed the move.
"When Parrikar was opposition leader, he had given his full support to the protests of affected farmers. Now he is chief minister of the state and Azagonkar is sports minister in his government," lamented Sports City Affected Farmers Association Leader Shripad Parab.
"Defying the pleas of farmers, The government has gone to the extent of doing business with the acquired land and this is very unfortunate," Parab added.
Explaining further, Parab said: "The government forcibly acquired 9 lakh sq mtrs of land at Dhargal at Rs 100 per sq. mtre and though it deposited Rs 9 crore with the EDC as compensation, the affected farmers did not accept a single rupee."
"Now, the government is leasing out only 20% of the acquired land to GCA for Rs 1,000 per sq mtrs, which amounts to Rs 19 crore. As such, the government has made a profit of Rs 10 crore by parting with only 20% of the acquired land," alleged Parab.
Parab clarified that they were not opposed to the international cricket stadium, but said the farmers have been demanding the exclusion of 1 lakhs sq mtrs of cultivable land from the total acquired land.
"We welcome such projects in Pernem taluka and farmers from Virnoda do not oppose such development. But why is the government not accepting our request to exclude 1.05 lakh sq mtrs of cultivable land from the 9 lakh sq mtrs of acquired land," asked Parab.
"If the government accepts our request and excludes 1.05 lakh sq mtrs of cultivable land, they can easily build a cricket stadium or even an ayurvedic hospital at the proposed site. Is there no value to the demands and requests of farmers," asked Parab.
"The farmers began their battle with Parrikar as opposition leader on their side and unfortunately, farmers now have to fight against Parrikar as chief minister to demand their rights."
"The State government should immediately accept the proposal put forth by the farmers oe else, we will not allow any development on this land. We are willing to go to the highest court in the land, if needed," warned Parab.
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THE LAND ACQUISITION TANGLE
* The Award for land acquisition to construct sports infrastructure to host 36th National games 2011 at Dhargal-Pernem was passed on March 29, 2011. * The affected farmers challenged the land acquisition before the Bombay High court at Goa on May 2, 2011. * On October 10, 2013, farmers submitted a representation to the government requesting to exclude 1,05,260 sq mtrs of agricultural land. * After the government refused to accept demands of farmers in their representation, the Bombay High Court at Goa admitted the writ petition of farmers on April 15, 2014.
* A total of 9,19,789 sq mtrs of land was acquired by the government. Of this, 4,37,399 sq. mtrs of land was bought at Rs 100 per sq mtrs, while 4,82,390 sq mtrs of tenanted land was bought at Rs 30 per sq mtrs.
