THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA: There is hope that the wait of more than 40 years will end and justice will be delivered to the owners of houses belonging to the seven traditional fishermen in Baga.
Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) Chairman Dayanand Sopte on Wednesday said the government would soon arrive at an amicable decision to resolve the problem of the seven houses existing on its land at Baga.
“More than 40 years ago, the then government had acquired this land in Baga with the houses of the seven tenants in the property. Successive governments failed to settle their issue and give justice to them. We will give them relief and settle the issue once for all,” Sopte said.
The GTDC chairman along with Waste Management Minister and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and the GTDC officials inspected the area and the houses on Wednesday evening.
Lobo said the seven houses were from the Portuguese era and much prior to when the land was acquired by the government and now with GTDC.
“All the residents are locals who are traditional fishermen. The issue about their ownership has been hanging for very long time and they are involved in court battles with no relief in sight,” Lobo said.
He said the houses which were made out of mud were in bad shape and needed urgent attention in terms of repairs.
“The CM, Tourism Minister and GTDC Chairman will have to resolve the issue along with the land survey officials. The built-up area should be measured and fenced so that they do not encroach in GTDC property again and are given a final settlement,” he said.
The seven houses of the tenants existed much before the land was acquired by the then MGP-run government in 1974.
However, the tenants were not settled then and the residents were living in constant fear that their houses would be demolished.
