the goan I network
MARGAO
As they faced the bitter prospect of finally losing the land of their ancestors, which they have been cultivating for decades, Madel farmers came face to face with Income Tax authorities on Tuesday during demarcation of the land acquired for the Income Tax department.
While the I-T officials claimed that the land in question was acquired by the department years ago, farmers questioned the surveyor as well as the I-T officials why they have come for demarcation of the land when they were yet to harvest the paddy. In fact, they bitterly complained that the demarcation exercise has damaged their paddy, fearing that the paddy will suffer further damage during the installation of demarcation stones.
The I-T officials were apparently taken by surprise when a group of farmers from Madel questioned them over their presence in the fields. While the I-T officials claimed that they are now the rightful owners of the fields, having acquired the land from the local comunidade, the farmers disputed their claim, saying they were kept in the dark during the land acquisition process.
Allaying the apprehensions raised by the farmers that their produce will be destroyed before they harvest the crop, a lady I-T official said the farmers will be permitted their produce, saying the I-T will not come in the way of farmers taking away the produce.
The farmers wondered how come development can take place in the fields cultivated by the agriculturists, claiming their farms must have been acquired by keeping them in the dark.
Even as the I-T officials went ahead with the demarcation, the farmers now plan to knock of the doors of district authorities for compensation for the damage caused to their crops during the demarcation.
