1)
Protesters holding placards stood along the footpath lining the site where a contractor for the Taleigao panchayat has filled up fields cultivated for a new panchayat ghar project
2)
On Thursday, people from Velsao, Margao, Benaulim, Porvorim, Santa Cruz, Anjuna, Moira and Panaji joined the protesters from Taleigao for the demonstration to save the fields
3)
The panchayat ghar project proposed by the Taleigao local body ran into trouble after questions were raised over the status of the land by the farmers tilling it and others
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PANAJI
The stir to "Save our fields" launched by farmers and a group of greens from Taleigao gained steam on Thursday with several dozens of Goans from other villages joined the protest.
Protesters holding placards stood along the footpath lining the site where a contractor for the Taleigao panchayat has filled up fields cultivated until the last Rabi season for a new panchayat ghar project.
The Taleigao panchayat currently functions from a plush premises of the Taleigao Community Hall close to the site.
On Thursday, people from Velsao, Margao, Benaulim, Porvorim, Santa Cruz, Anjuna, Moira and Panaji joined the protesters from Taleigao for the demonstration.
The panchayat ghar project proposed by the Taleigao local body ran into trouble after questions were raised over the status of the land by the farmers tilling it and others.
It was acquired by the government several years ago but there was ambiguity over the completion of the process.
The issue had been put before the Lokayukta which had initially stayed the panchayat from carrying out any further work.
In May, several activists including Cecille Rodrigues, Taleigao Farmers Club chairman, Xavier Almeida, Lawyer-activist Albertina Almeida, Architect Talulah D'Silva, among others were detained by the police after they led a crowd to protest against the indiscriminate filling of low-lying paddy fields.
They have now launched a protracted agitation under the banner of 'Save Our Fields in Taleigao' which they say will continue till the authorities see reason and backtrack from locating the project in verdant paddy fields.
