On January 24, 1969, there were two indentures: one with the Archdiocese as the vendor to CIBA and another between the President of India as the vendor again to CIBA. According to the Sale Deed, the company cannot sell their land to any other party unless they are a subsidiary of the company. Provisions in the deed also state that if the company wants to sell the land, it has to first go to the government,”
Bapstist Pereira, activist
....
Villagers oppose sale of land in Corlim
Gram sabha to take a call on Syngenta transferring land to Deccan Fine today
PANAJI
Villagers of the Corlim panchayat will on Sunday at a special gram sabha decide on action and strategies to be taken against the plans of the chemical factory Syngenta selling their land to scam riddled Satyam-run Deccan Fine Chemicals Pvt Ltd.
Speaking to media persons in Panjim on Saturday, villager and activist Baptist Pereira emphasised on the villagers not wanting the transfer to happen and that it was illegal as per the Sale Deed signed between the Archdiocese and CIBA India Ltd (before it became Syngenta Pvt Ltd) back in January 1969.
“On January 24, 1969, there were two indentures: one with the Archdiocese as the vendor to CIBA and another between the President of India as the vendor again to CIBA. According to the Sale Deed, the company cannot sell their land to any other party unless they are a subsidiary of the company. Provisions in the deed also state that if the company wants to sell the land, it has to first go to the government,” said Pereira.
It is the demand of the villagers that the land instead of being sold to Deccan Fine should be used for developing the area for educational purposes or used for the society. “Handing it over to Deccan Fine will put not only the village but that of the surrounding areas at risk. They are known to have a bad name in the industry and we don’t want another Bhopal tragedy happening in the State,” said deputy sarpanch Victor Pereira. Syngenta had in a notice to the panchayat said there were plans of Deccan Fine acquiring the company.
The major concern for villagers is the new company’s safety standards as compared to Syngenta that had a relatively good safety standard.
Advocate Aires Rodrigues showed his support to the locals saying that Syngenta would be in violation of their own Sale Deed adding that he would help in challenging the sale to Deccan Fine in the people’s court as well as higher courts if needed.
“Corlim is a densely populated area and keeping in mind the track record of the Satyam Company, the villagers don’t trust the standards they work with. Tomorrow the gram sabha will decide whether or not allowing them to sell to the new company and will also decide on alternative projects to be taken up in the area,” said Rodrigues.
Fingers were also pointed at the government itself questioning their motive in allowing settlements to develop around the area if they were interested in having chemical companies set up.
