MARGAO
The farmers lodged their protest against the backdrop of a purported statement made by the local Comunidade attorney that farmers no longer cultivate the fields, which now constitute the Fatorda lake opposite the Nehru stadium. The protest also assumes significance given the inspection of the fields carried out by local MLA Vijai Sardesai along with WRD Minister Vinoda Paliencar, raising suspicion amongst the farming community that Sardesai has plans to revive the Fatorda lake project.
Caetano Silva told the media that he has been cultivating the land for over 7-8 decades now, though the farmers have been facing problem of cultivation in recent times because of the flooding. “The vast tracts of land gets inundated because the authorities do not open the mouth of the lake. They have destroyed farming and now they want to take our fields,” he rued.
Another farmer Rita Camara echoed similar sentiments. “These fields have been cultivated by me and my family over the decades. I do not understand why they want to displace the farmers on grounds that we no longer cultivate the fields,” Rita sought to know, saying that they would oppose any move aimed at forcing them to part with the land of their ancestors.
Manuel Furtado told the media that he and his family is still cultivating the fields and disputed the claim made by the Comunidade attorney that the land has been kept fallow over the years. “We are Niz Goemkars and these fields constitute our Goemkarponn. Where will the Niz Goemkar go if these fields are destroyed and the farmers displaced,” he said.
He also demanded that the authorities open the traditional nullah running parallel to the road widening project near the Nehru stadium, fearing large scale inundation of the area during the monsoon.
Former Margao Municipal Council chairperson Piedade Noronha, who has taken up cudgels for the beleaguered farmers, pooh poohed the claims made by the Comunidade Attorney that the farmers have abandoned the fields. “They should not get blinded by the ground reality. All the farmers are cultivating the fields. Don’t concoct stories to get the farmers displaced from the land of their ancestors,” Piedade warned.
She said the farmers belonging to the Scheduled Tribe community have borne the brunt of development in Fatorda. “Let the government tell us how many displaced ST farmers have got jobs at the Nehru stadium. Let them tell us how many ST families have been rehabilitated in the district hospital in lieu of land,” Piedade questioned.
She recalled that the ST farmers had made a representation to the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in 2012 not to displace the farmers by developing the Fatorda lake.
