On the face of it, what Arwin says may sound true but is not necessarily true.
There are some greedy Goans who now have even put out their wives and daughters
for sale along the coastal belt. Anyone who can trade in land, can also trade
his wife and daughters.
But most of us forget the havoc played by the Mundkar Act and Agriculture
Tenancy Act. Now when the government itself tried to get lands for contract
farming they could not because of these Acts. People did not trust. Now they
want to amend the Act for agricluture purpose. But what happens to the impact
of the Act in other areas? Yellapa, Chinnaswamy, and Ramsingh who came to Goa
in 1980 have also declared themselves Munkars on Communidade land and of
private houses even though there was a cut off date.
Anyone will make a road or erect a shed in your property and then claim
mundkarial rights. Batttle it out in court until such time that the lawyers
fees given far surpass the actual value of the land.
The local MLA will call you and ask you to sell the land. If not he will apply
land acquisition for public purpose. At the rate of development in the village
any land remaining will get acquired by the government for a pittance in the
name of play ground and recreational park. Would it not be better that one
sells the land for a price to the builder rather than get peanuts from the
government?
Everyone is only giving sermons but no one is attacking the colonial laws which
continue in our democracy. Will the flying squads, NDZs and Regional plan
address this aspect?
-Soter
