SHANTARAM NAIK Ex-M.P.
H. No.2137,Near Swami Math,
Gogol, Margao,Post Fatorda 403 602
Tel: 733255,706143
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
26th July,2002
SWORD OF "LAGAAN" STILL HANGING ON GOANS HEAD
Mr. Shantaram Naik Ex-M.P. and former President of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee in a
statement issued today has regretted that despite Chief Minister Shri Manohar
Parriker's failed attempt to target Congress party for arbitrary fixing of land
revenue for agricultural lands under a revised formula, increasing the same by 200% to
300%, an equivalent to 'lagaan',the Britishers used to impose on agriculturists,
during British Rule in India and despite his subsequent assurance of withdrawing
notifications, the sword of "lagaan" is still hanging on Goans' head.
Mr. Naik said he along with the Goa PCC President Mrs. Nirmala Sawant and the then
Leader of Congress Legislature Party Mr.Luizinho Faleiro, had vociferously raised the
issue.
Mr. Naik said by his letter dated 30th August, he brought the matter to the notice of
the Governor of Goa Shri.Mohd. Fazal who then wrote to the Chief Minister, on 4th
September, enclosing a copy of Mr. Naik's letter .
In his statement, Mr. Naik recalls that the Collectors of North Goa and South Goa
issued issued eleven notifications, in July,2001 with respect to 32 revenue villages
of Ponda,31 villages of Bicholim, 39 villages of Tiswadi, 46 villages of Bardez, 82
villages of Sattari and 27 villages of Pernem Taluka , 53 villages ofSanguem ,17
villagesMormugao, 42 villages of Quepem , 50 Villages of Salcete, and 9 villages of
Canacona and, for each of these villages , new rates of land revenue ('predial' as it
is commonly understood in Goa) have been fixed ,separate rates being fixed for
rice,coconut and cashew lands,respecively.
Mr. Naik says that although revised assessment of land revenue was long overdo, the
government should have given wide publicity to the Settlement Officers' Reports of
each tatuka and invite objections to the same from the concerned people, giving three
months time for the purpose as required by section 72(2) of the Land Revenue Code,1968
.
Mr. Naik says people of Goa were just not aware of any appointment of Settlements
Officers ,criteria they adopted to calculate the standard rates for various types of
land ,and therefore, the arbitrary fixing of land revenue as Britishers' fixed
'lagaan' was opposed by him and others.
Mr. Naik says that if the notifications are not withdrawn, agriculturists in North
Goa, will have now to pay land revenue per hectre of rice land ,coconut land and
cashew land at Rs.340/-,Rs.450/- and Rs.150/-,respectively , in Ponda;
Rs.310/-,Rs.432,Rs.189 in Bicholim; Rs.420/-,Rs.459/-,Rs.173, in Tiswadi;
Rs.396/-,Rs.432,Rs.208, in Bardez; Rs.270/-,Rs.430,Rs.173 in Sattari ; and;
Rs.335/-,Rs.450/- and 172/- in Pernem Taluka.
As regards South Goa the rates are: Sanguem Taluka Rs.290/-,356,189,
Mormugao,Rs.330/-,356,208,Quepem,341/-,356/-,189/-,Canacona Rs.342/-,356/-,207/- and
Salcete Rs.348/-,368/-208/- per hectre of rice land,coconut land and cashew land,
respectively.
Mr Naik says that the Chief Minister took an erroneous stand to the effect that the
Goa Legislative Assembly has to pass a bill to reduce the exhorbitant land revenue
imposed by the Government under the July notifications but , subsequently a resolution
was passed by the Assembly for reducing the rates ,however, the neither the said
notifications have been withdrawn nor any fresh ones with reduced rates have ben
issued.
Mr. Naik says that the Government should call for fresh objections on the said
notifications giving personal hearing to individuals and associations objecting to the
notifications and then finalise the land revenue rates.
SHANTARAM NAIK Ex-M.P.
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