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A meeting of the residents of Tivim and other owners of the land proposed to be converted from "Private Forest" and "Paddy fields" at Tivim-Mapusa border to a commercial purpose under the guise of an International Cricket Stadium was held at Tivim on Thursday 08 February, 2007. It was unanimously decided to support the conservation of the Private Forests as identified by the Supreme Court directed Sawant Committee as well as surveyed and demarcated by the Forest Department of Goa. Private owners of the land in the area had protested to the Appropriate Authorities immediately after the publication of the Notification No.23/13/2006-RD dated 21 April, 2006 under Section 4 sub-section (1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 [LAA]on two grounds, viz. forcible dispossesion of the property and the meagre compensation ranging from Rs.5 to Rs.150 per sq.metre. A memorandum with hundreds of signatures was also given to the Governor of Goa, Chief Minister and other Ministers and Authorities. However, the Special Land Acquisition Officer [SLAO] and Deputy Collector-Bardez went ahead and issued a Notice No.3/11/SDO/MASP/LA/2005 dated 18 January, 2007 under Section 12(2) of LAA, 1894. In less than a year, the process of acquiring land under the British Raj law is being completed notwithstanding the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution of India that seek to establish the supremacy of the people in the planning process. On Friday, 02 February, 2007, the SLAO summoned the owners/ inheritors of the land and obtained their signatures, ostensibly as proof of their attendance. However, at least one local newspaper carried a news item, on the very next day in its sports page, stating that possession of the said land had been handed over by the SLAO to the Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs for the cricket stadium. The total land area acquired is stated to be 1,30,328 sq. m. at a cost of Rs67.37 lakhs or an average of Rs.50 per sq.m. including invaluable forest cover over half the land. It is stated that additional land would be later acquired for parking and other allied facilities. The Duler Football Ground, where now the parking area is proposed to be extended into the Government Agriculture Farm, seems to be a pilot project to test the methodology. The bold action of the SAVE GOA Campaign has inspired an initiative by the residents of Tivim to prevent the destruction of 43,725 square metres of "Private Forest" in Survey Nos 404 [27,675 sq.m.], 403/1 [5990 sq. m.] and the area around these survey numbers along with a paddy field at "Ambeani" [just after the Tivim Industrial Estate on the Tivim Road]. Part of this tenanted land belongs to the Communidade while the rest is privately owned. The Foundation Stone for the cricket stadium is scheduled to be laid on Sunday 11 February, 2007 [on the birthday of the BCCI Vice-President and Minister for IT, Adv. Dayanabd Narvekar.] The Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs is the designated Custodian of the property acquired by the SLAO & SDO-Bardez, Mahesh Corjuemkar, although the compensation is yet to be paid to the owners of the land, who are adamant that they will not sell the land of their ancestors. Hundred of trees are marked to be cut and some have already been felled. About 80 persons from all walks of life and communities participated in the meeting was held at Tivim today. Vishram Talgaokar, Ladislaus Fernandes, Sheila Kalangutkar, Grace Coutinho, Christine Fernandes, Gurunath Malvankar, Elvino Noronha, Jack Lobo, Bhagwan Kerkar, Vicky Lobo, Leslie Pereira, Gorakhnath Naik and others participated in the deliberations . A Working Committee has been finalised from among those present to peruse the Notifications and other documents and chalk out a course of action. Leslie Pereira Convenor ----------------------------------------- PRESS RELEASE from <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ---------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ---------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------------------------