MARGAO
Will politicians of all hues stop shedding crocodile tears for the beleaguered farmers of Madel-Fatorda, who have been agitating for the last 20 years for the return of their agricultural fields, even as the SGPDA has set in motion the process to put in place a new ODP (ODP) for Margao and Fatorda?
Expectations were high amongst farmers around two years ago that the lush green agricultural fields, admeasuring 1.37 lakh square mtres will get the green colour on the ODP 2028 notified in 2019, before they lay claim on the possession of their ancestral fields.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai was then the State Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister in the Manohar Parrikar government and also controlled the SGPDA when the ODP 2028 was prepared and notified.
Instead, a portion of the fields was painted with the blue colour, signalLing it has been zoned as a special commercial zone with 300 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to house an IT hub on the lush-green fields, leaving the balance portion for community farming.
With the farmers renewing their demand for the return of their agricultural fields and threatening to intensify the agitation, the local MLA has now proposed to the PDA that the zone of the acquired fields be reverted to agriculture.
Ruling BJP MLA and SGPDA Chairperson, however, said the PDA need to consult the GSUDA, which had acquired the fields before any decision is taken on the change of zone from special commercial zone to agriculture.
“The Fatorda MLA has proposed the change of zone of the acquired fields to agriculture. Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has said the PDA need to consult the GSUDA on the issue since the land in question belongs to the Urban Development Agency. We will find out whether GSUDA is in favour of reverting the fields to agriculture zone,” D’Sa added.
The Fatorda MLA, however, countered by saying the SGPDA need not seek the opinion of GSUDA and instead go by the opinion of the farmers given that the land in question was acquired at the rate of Rs five per square meter. Ruling PDA members, however, sought to question the Fatorda MLA why the entire agricultural land was not shown as green in the ODP when the SGPDA was controlled by him and when he was then presiding over the TCP portfolio.
