PANAJI
The members of the Maem Bhoo Vimochan Nagrik Kruti Samiti emerged disappointed from a review meeting with Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Speaker Anant Shet, lamenting that it offered them no hope of a faster processing of sanad applications.
The meeting was convened at the behest of the Samiti, to review the progress of the processing of applications for issuing sanads to the more than 1,134 residents who have applied to be declared Occupants Class II of the land.
“We are not happy with the current pace at which this issue is moving. The process will definitely not complete before the elections,” Kashinath Mayekar, leader of Maem Bhoo Vimochan Nagrik Kruti Samiti, said.
He pointed to the fact that only around 56 of the 1,150-odd applications were close to receiving their provisional sanads.
For his part, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said that he approved the appointment of a special mamlatdar to look solely into applications with regard to this case.
“One of the grievances was that the mamlatdar was busy in a lot of other work. We will rectify this by appointing a special mamlatdar,” Parsekar said.
“The hearings are held in Panaji and our elders cannot travel all the way for these hearings. Besides, the authorities keep asking for all kinds of documentation which is completely unnecessary. All we should be asked to produce is either a water bill or a electricity bill to prove their residence,” Mayekar added.
Speaker Anant Shet defended the procedure, pointing out that the legal process often consumes time, but added that it would be completed as it has commenced.
“We have come this far over the last few years. Earlier, there wasn’t even hope that the land would ever be freed. The first three final sanads will be issued in the coming days,” he said.
1,134 applications were received by the Collector for issuing sanads. Among these, 32 provisional sanads have been issued, while 24 are pending for payment. Three have already been confirmed.
“The provisional certificates are as good as permanent. The people of Maem are confident, given that the process has begun and it will reach its logical conclusion,” Shet said.
Unfazed samiti members threatened that they would review whether to continue supporting the BJP in the upcoming elections.
