MARGAO
Farmers power reigned supreme in the village of Curtorim, considered the granary of Salcete, after agitated farmers and citizens forced the Curtorim panchayat body to revoke the permission issued to a construction project comprising of 11 row bungalows, swimming pool and a health club on the banks of the Maina lake.
Agitated farmers and citizens assembled at the Curtorim market on Tuesday morning and later marched to the Curtorim panchayat ghar where the panchayat was scheduled to have its monthly meeting. Armed with banners, the farmers shouted slogans against the project, as they gave calls to protect agriculture and the lake from destruction. The people invoked the blessings of the Almighty as they offered prayers to enlighten the minds of the elected representatives to take a decision at the panchayat meeting taking the sentiments of the farmers and citizens into account.
When the morcha reached the panchayat ghar the panchayat body meeting chaired by Sarpanch Caetano Hilario was underway. A couple of farmers made their presence felt at the panchayat hall where the meeting was underway to demand immediate revocation of the permission issued for the construction project.
Since the panchayat venue of the meeting could not accommodate the people, there was a demand to shift the panchayat meeting at the spacious hall. The sarpanch and the members relented to the demand before the meeting was shifted to the panchayat hall.
At the meeting, agitated farmers and citizens questioned the sarpanch and the members for clearing the permission by resorting to voting. They wondered why the views of the farmers were not taken into account before granting approval for the project. Former deputy sarpanch Simon Barretto said the panchayat should check the nationality of the project promoter and reject the proposal.
Chairperson of the Curtorim Bio-diversity Committee J Santan Rodrigues reminded that the panchayat is the licencing authority and wondered why the body has granted the licence despite objections from the farmers. He said the bio-diversity management committee has sought the opinion and advice of the State Bio-diversity Board on the matter. “Don’t go by the diktat of the TCP or the BDO in the matter of issuing licences. There are instances when the TCP had given approvals by taking bribes. These authorities will do anything by taking money. Hence, it is the responsibility of the panchayat to take the interests of the village into account before granting permissions,” he said.
Farmer Lawrence Barretto pointed out that despite objections from the farmers, the panchayat went ahead and issued the permission for the project on December 26.
He said almost the entire panchayat body comprising of 11 members have now expressed their support to the farmers and accepted the demand to revoke the project.
Sarpanch Caetano Hilario told the people that the panchayat has finally decided to revoke the permission granted to the project after following the process, much to the relief of the farmers and citizens.
On December 29, the farmers and citizens had taken out a candle light procession from the agricultural fields to the Khandi Khuris and offered prayers at the miraculous cross. Incidentally, around nine out of the 11 panchayat members were present and offered their support to the farmers.
