MAPUSA
The concretisation of part of the field in front of the Shri Bodgeshwar temple has raised concern among the farming community even as the Mapusa civic body has called for a joint inspection of the alleged illegal activity.
A concrete foundation has been laid on a fairly large area of what was part of an open field in front of the temple.
Most of the area around the temple is tenanted fields owned by the comunidade of Mapusa.
A farmer Gautam Gajanan Parsekar has in a complaint to the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) accused the Bodgeshwar Devasthan committee for illegal and forceful encroachment of his agriculture field.
Acting on the complaint, the Chief Officer of Mapusa Municipal Council has called for a joint inspection of the alleged illegal construction in the field.
“You are requested to remain present in the office in order to assist the Municipal Engineer and the Municipal Inspector in identifying the alleged illegal construction along with documentary evidence to prove the illegality of the structure,” said Chandrakant Shetkar, Chief Officer of MMC in a communiqué to the complainant and the President of the Shri Bodgeshwar Devasthan committee.
The President of Shri Bodgeshwar Shetkari Sangh, Sanjay Barde alleged that the President of Shri Bodgeshwar Devasthan Anand Bhaidkar has been illegally carrying out the construction activity in the tenanted field without taking the owners into confidence.
“Bhaidkar has neither informed the farmers nor the Mapusa comunidade. None of the local authorities like the mamlatdar has also been informed about the activity,” Barde said.
Councilor of Mapusa and a member of Bodgeshwar Devasthan, Shashank Narvekar said whether the land belongs to a private entity, government or comunidade, permissions have to be obtained for any construction activity.
“Since it’s an agricultural land, conversion has also to be done of the property. Rules are the same for everyone whether it’s a temple or any other organisation,” Narvekar said.
According to the President of Shri Bodgeshwar Devasthan Anand Bhaidkar, the concrete construction was done a couple of years back and after taking the farmers concerned into confidence.
“Earlier too, a joint complaint was made by some farmers on the issue. We have nothing to hide. Let them do the demarcation and produce the relevant documents,” Bhaidkar said.
He, however, did not spell out what the devasthan was planning to do in the area.
