MAPUSA
Facing widespread criticism from the farming community, Minister for water resources Subhash Shirodkar did a U-turn and said that the government has no intention to take over land from the ryots but wanted them to plough the land instead of leaving it uncultivated.
Shirodkar also said that the government has always been at the forefront to implement various schemes but the initiative should come from the people.
“The statement was made with good intention. Just like we berate a small child by saying, ‘if you don’t keep quiet we will beat you’. But then we never beat the child. So, we will not do that (take over the land). Although there is a provision in the Act (to seize uncultivable land) and it is there from before, but no one is going to invoke that,” Shirodkar, told The Goan.
The WRD minister courted controversy when he recently said that he was planning to get a law allowing the government to take over uncultivated land. The minister also said that any person who was unwilling to cultivate agricultural land should not claim tenancy rights to the land.
Several farmers in the State including Bardez lambasted the minister for trying to dispossess the farmers of their land.
According to Shirodkar, keeping land idle was a crime and people should come forward and cultivate instead of keeping it fallow for years together and claiming tenancy rights over the land.
“Not only me. Anyone would say you have your land with you but plant it. Develop it, cultivate it,” he said.
He said he was aware that the biggest problem farmers faced was getting labour but suggested that people should work with a positive mindset.
He further reiterated that the government has never lagged in implementing various schemes but the initiative should come from the people.
“Somebody has to take a step. If someone takes one step, the government is willing to take two steps,” he said.
