MARGAO
People jostled and clashed with each other to encroach and occupy government land located near the power station at Monte Hill and hardly few metres away from the district Collector’s bungalow ahead of the elections for the Margao Municipal Council.
Revenue officials were nowhere in sight to protect the government land from encroachments though the make-shift structures had taken shape in the last few days. It was only after two groups of people clashed to exercise control over the land that a talathi and police personnel made their presence felt on the land, coming under the Pajifond ward of the Margao civic body.
While one group claimed that government land is being encroached upon by some persons, the rival group dared the people to prove the legal status of their own structures on the government land, indicating that encroachment upon the land has been rampant over the years, only gaining momentum with the municipality going for the polls next month.
While the groups made claims and counter claims, challenging each other to produce ownership documents, even invoking the names of politicians for patronising the land grabbing, an interesting aspect that has come to the fore is how come the new shanties had escaped the attention of the revenue officials, the protector of all government land.
While the talathi told the media that he would submit the report to the Salcete Mamlatdar, Prataprao Gaonkar on the illegalities identified on the government land, questions are being raised whether the district authorities were genuinely unaware of the encroachment on government land or turned a blind eye to the illegalities.
People questioned the silence of the authorities in cracking a whip on the encroachments that have come up on government land, further questioning whether the authorities will prefer to act only upon receiving complaints.
When contacted, Salcete Mamlatdar Prataprao Gaonkar said he had immediately sent the talathi and the circle inspector to Pajifond no sooner his office has received information about the encroachments on government land.
“I have compiled a report and forwarded the same to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Margao. Action against the encroachments will be initiated no sooner the order comes from the SDM,” said Prataprao Gaonkar.
