Struggle is not yet over-the battle to save Goa’s Khazans and Salt pans--reminiscing after 19 eventful years….
Nandkumar M. Kamat Struggle is not over-only the pace is reduced. Life is dissipating slowly. At 51, my once youthful stamina is absentEvil forces are increasing. Voices of sanity and sensibility are becoming rarer. There are more threats. Even threats to one's life. …Goa and Goans have changed beyond recognition, but memories still flood the mind when 17 January approaches! Mindtape in reverse order as best as I could recollect! 17 January 1991:- The Goa bench of Mumbai highcourt finally delivers the judgment in my PIL WP 319/88. The prayers pertained to 1. Repair the Pantecantor and Chirculem khazan bunds 2. Restore the Panaji,_St Cruz and Panaji-Merces roads getting flooded 3. Assist the farmers, Salt producers and toddy tappers besides incorporate all the suggestions based on the high level inspection ordered by the court on my request I had filed and argued the case in person on behalf of 1200 farmers, 200 toddy tappers and 30 salt producers since October 5 th , 1988, the date of admission. This involved dedicating 48 full days in the court and appearing before 10 different benches between 1988 to 1991. 22 November 1990:- Just two weeks before the PDF alliance led government lost power, notification to appoint an Agricultural land development panel –ALDP, is issued based on the detail note swhich I had submitted on problems of khazan lands and their sustainable management to the then Minister for revenue, Dr. Kashinath Zalmi. Members besides myself are-late Dr. J. F. Martins-freedom fighter, Mr. Percival Noronha, Dr. J.B. Sardessai, Dr. N.P.S.Varde, and the dir. Of agriculture. The minister revenue is chairman and the undersecretary revenue-Mr. Nambiar is member secretary. Due to politically fluid situation the panel couldn’t start the work till April 1991. (The ALDP report which was only such report after the report of Dias’s Goa land reforms commission, 1964 and Anthony Desouza committees’ s report on land ceiling 1973, was submitted in March 1992 without any political interference at any stage and was used extensively during the agitation for realignment of Konkan railway route. Only a fraction of the report was implemented as the political parties couldn’t manage without support from Goa’s notorious pisciculture mafia which stands in the way of implementation of ALDP report. Please read my paper on this issue- http://www.scribd.com/doc/17712347/Ecology-and-Political-Economy-of-Khazan-Lands-of-Goa ) August 11, 1990:- As suggested by revenue minister Dr. Zalmi, on basis of my brief study of the problems of khazan lands in Goa, I prepare and submit a note to him demanding constitution of a panel with the terms of reference suggested. July 1990:- A police constable from Ribandar police station delivers a summons to me to appear in the JMFC’s court. The government decides to prosecute me with 14 others for having indulged in ‘rasta roko’ at St. Cruz on August 25, 1988 demanding urgent repairs to khazan bundhs and action on flooded khazan farms and eroded roads. On that day at 9 a.m. we were dragged by police, beaten, thrown in a van and locked up at Panaji police lockup. A delegation of citizens led by freedom fighter Dr. Martins meets Collector, north Goa Mr. Dengnunha at night requesting our unconditional release. Collector assures that no charges would be pressed as he had understood the issue. In the lockup we refuse the food and water and finally got released past midnight. It now appears that the PIL filed by me got on the nerves of politicians and secretaries, so almost two years after the agitation government thinks of prosecution. The case drags on for several years before the government comes to its’ senses and in public interest withdraws it. But in the meantime I had the double duty of appearing in two courts. Those who appear before the JMFC’s court are released on bond and surety. My friend Mr. Dinesh Joshi stands as surety for me. February-1990:- Accepting my counter affidavit on government’s report, the bench orders the Development commissioner Mr. Baijal to hear me. On my demand a field inspection of the creek, bundhs,low lying farms and salt pans is conducted in presence of DC, dir. Of agriculture, irrigation, revenue, Mamlatdar, Tiswadi, Collector, North Goa, local MLA Mr. Victor Gonsalves. May 1989:- The issue of restoration of salt pans of St. Cruz and Merces is taken up with director of industries. Joint meetings are held with salt producers. Government commissions experts from central Salt and Marine research institute, Bhavnagar to prepare a report on salt industry of Goa. Scientists Mr. Joshi and Mr. Rathod submit the report. Oct. 5, 1988:- I stand before the Goa bench of Bombay highcourt-justice Mr. G. D. Kamat and Mr. C. Dharmadhikari, arguing and pleading the admission of PIL. The hon. Judges admit the petition and ask us to refrain from agitational means. The WP 319/88 is admitted and notices are issued to Chief secretary, Goa. September, 1988:- I begin collecting information from St. cruz and Merces on problems faced by farmers, toddy tappers and salt producers in order to obtain their affidavits. August 26, 1988, 3. 00 a.m.:- My mother is happy to see me released and back home from the lockup. She says in Konkani- that the women whom she had met in the village market had told her “to tuzo lamb to chedo, taka Pulisani dhorun vhelo”. No family members visited me in the lockup. I break my fast at 3.00 a.m. I am exhausted. But the spirit has bounced back and ready to carry out the struggle in more organized manner-without any idea –how many years it would really take! Key issues:- Khazan lands cover 18, 000 hectares of land in Goa and provide employment to 100 thousand people. Calapur communidade had 1200 khazan farmers. There were 28 active salt pans in St. Cruz and Merces till 1980-81. Now only 4-6 are under operations. Also view my article (1997) published in the Souvenir of the Holy Cross Church , Santa cruz SANTA CRUZ: THE ECOLOGICAL MYSTERIES OF A GOAN VILLAGE, weblink>http://www.goacom.com/village/santa_cruz/ecology.htm -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
