-- Samir Umarye BICHOLIM MARCH 4: Agriculturists and horticulturists from Latambarcem village<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/search?q=Latambarcem%20village>in Bicholim taluka have expressed grave concern over the inclusion of their agricultural and horticultural lands in the proposed industrial zone in the Regional Plan 2021.
Villagers have learnt that the government, through the notification 29/8/TCP/2008/RP-21/pt./3743 of October 24, 2008, has included cultivable land bearing survey nos 67/1, 67/2, 100/1 and 100/2 in the proposed industrial zone at Vadawal in Latambarcem without the consent from locals. However, officials of town and country planning (TCP) department have given an assurance that cases of agriculturists and horticulturists at Vadawal would be considered in a sympathetic manner. The Latambarcem village panchayat, in its gram sabha held on February 2, 2009, had unanimously passed a resolution to exclude cultivable lands from the proposed industrial zone and decided that these areas should be maintained as orchard zones. Besides, the main canal of the Tillari irrigation project along with the Sal sub-distribution channel also passes through this area. The area acquired for the proposed industrial zone also falls in the command area of the Tillari irrigation project. When contacted by TOI, chief engineer of water resources department Sandip Nadkarni said, "We have already taken objection to the proposal of the government since the area comes under the command area." The secretary of Sateri Sidhdeshwar Pani Vatap Vyavastha Sahakari Saunstha, Vadawal, Sagar Phalari, through a memorandum submitted on March 30, 2007 to the chief town planner, had urged the exclusion of this agricultural and horticultural area from the proposed industrial zone. Mahesh Gawas, president of Dodamarg water association said, "These areas need to be excluded as they lie in the watershed development programme sponsored by department of agriculture<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/search?q=department%20of%20agriculture>." Balasaheb Rane, alias Pratapsingh, 66, from Vadawal said, "I and my family by dint of hard work have developed the horticultural plantation with 3,600 cashew grafts. I was awarded the best horticulturist award by Goa government in 2004. Acquiring these lands for industrial zone will certainly shatter our livelihood to pieces." He further added, "Through a lot of hard work we have undertaken plantation of special high-yielding varieties of cashew, mango, coconut and others at Vadawal. A parliamentary study committee even visited our plantation for seeking advice in the formation of government policy." (ToI)
