KILLING THE FIELDS, UNDER OUR NOSES (Herald)

KILLING THE FIELDS, UNDER OUR NOSES July 16, 2013 VIBHA VERMA/SHWETA KAMAT PANJIM/ MAPUSA / DABOLIM / MARGAO: The BJP-led government made tall promises and announcements not to allow conversion of agricultural fields for non-agricultural purposes but the reality seems very different on the ground, as it were. The scam of “converting” these agricultural lands has gathered pace over the past five years ~ to be fair, and the earlier Congress government too must take its share of the blame. But we must focus on the dispensation in power and see what it has ~ or hasn’t ~ done to put an end to this “conversion” of agricultural land to clearly not-agricultural use in full public view. Patches of paddy fields along the national highways in Goa have been illegally doubling up for carrying out economic activity while the State authorities turn a Nelson’s Eye to these violations. These are not big constructions or mega projects but what starts as a small makeshift “business concerns” or shops on the spot that sell, cement bricks, building materials including marble, and pots and other nursery-related products that more often than not blossom into full-scale illegal business within few months on land where paddy once grew. The paddy and non-cultivated fields are being converted into brick-yards under our very noses. Unfortunately although the activity is underway right under our nose, not a single green NGO or activist has raised its voice thus far, and the administration seems only too happy to let things be. A Herald Investigation revealed that several lobbies from Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand are gradually encroaching on the ecologically sensitive areas, which is left unnoticed by the authorities or locals themselves. Many a times, it is learnt, the farmers happily rent out their agricultural land, supposedly illegally, to earn a quick buck. Herald Team traveled across several parts in North and South Goa to unearth the nexus that began operating about a decade ago and has entrenched itself over the past five years. To point out a few places in the north district, a green patch between Sangolda and Guirim junction has nearly five such illegal businesses being carried out on both sides of the fields which get many takers daily. Some of these have nurseries next to it. “We don’t think that we have illegally occupied these areas as there has been no action so far. If it was violation then why are authorities not acting?” a prompt question cropped from a middle-aged vendor, near the Guirim bus stand. The green cover of Parra has also not been spared as small plots of paddy fields have been let out to vendors. The lanes and by-lanes in the village will take one to the tents where the cement products are made and sold. In the capital city itself, little ahead the Kadamba Bus Stand and at a hardly few meters from Heera Petrol Pump towards the highways to Margao and Ponda, a wide open space has an extensive range of cement products on display on what is clear to the naked eye is agricultural land. While labourers were busy making the cement commercial products on the spot, the owner approached us as we confidently stepped in. “What do you want?” was his first question. We told him we were customers. “Our house is under construction and we need some grills, balcony and stair case railings, slabs and some designer pots for our lawn,” one of us answered. He showed us the products of different sizes on display and prices of each accordingly. While one gutter slab cost Rs 600, a slab was around Rs 1,200. The railings were also of different rates depending on the height and width. We left assuring him to return after inquiring rates at other such outlets. “Aap pata laga lo doosre jagah pe (you enquire about rates at other such places),” he told us confidently. We proceeded towards Goa Velha to witness the same shocking sight. Before the Agassaim by-pass ~ that already swallowed the paddy fields years back ~ after crossing the petrol pump lies a huge parcel of barren agricultural land. But it is occupied. The field opposite has cements product dumped on it. We approached the labourers and like previously, the owner emerged out of his tent. We “clients” gave the same reason for our visit and he revealed the prices of some of the products we pretended to be interested in. Each railing here cost Rs 50 and above depending on the height, width and design. While a medium-sized cement pot cost Rs 90, large outdoor planters were priced at Rs 2,000. The scene is similar along the paddy fields of South Goa. Queeny Nagar and Zuari Nagar in Dabolim had some of these non-agricultural uses of agricultural lands being conducted on private properties. Open spaces, just a stone’s throw away from South Collectorate Office, had nurseries and cement products stored on it. Huge heap of rubble, blocks of cement and bricks, house slabs, road dividers, other construction related materials and flower pots in varying sizes were all present. Striking a casual conversation with some of the people in this “business”, we were told that that they face no restrictions in setting up these businesses in the fields. They claimed that on average their monthly turnover is between Rs 25,000-35,000. “I have been here for last 10 years. I don’t know who this field belongs to. When I came here, I saw the land and commenced my business,” Mallapa, who has set up his brick yard at Margao near the new South Goa Collectorate, said. He said that he originally hails from Jharkhand. When contacted, a Collectorate official stated that government cannot act unless there are complaints from the locals. “We are helpless,” an official said. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Main%20Page%20News/KILLING-THE-FIELDS-UNDER-OUR-NOSES/76975.html