Isidore inspects site along with officials after allegations of illegal sale
CANACONA
Taking strong objection to claims by Congress regarding his silence in an alleged land scam at Shristhal, Deputy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes insisted there was no encroachment on the forest land, which was in the safe possession of the forest department.
Fernandes, who is also chairperson of the Goa Forest Development Corporation (GFDC), along with a team of officials comprising GFDC General Manager Nandkumar Parab, GFDC RFO Sebastiao Rodrigues, Surveyor Gaurish Naik and Canacona RFO Prakash Naik inspected the land, following allegations of illegal sale and usurping of Comunidade and forest department land.
A memorandum submitted by Canacona Congress had also demanded an inquiry into the silence of Fernandes as GFDC chairman.
“As MLA and GFDC chairman, I convened a meeting of the board when I learnt about complaints of encroachment on forest land at Shristhal. The board has clarified there is no encroachment or sale of forest land and that, the forest land is in safe possession of the department,” said Fernandes.
Parab had clarified that the Canacona comunidade, by way of an MoU, had leased 140 hectares of land in Survey 184/5 and 185/5 parts to the forest department in 1974-75.
Speaking further, Fernandes said the land where the illegal sale has been alleged by some Shrishthal residents did not belong to the forest department.
“All 140 hectares of forest land is in safe possession of the department. The department regularly conducts an auction of cashew plantations on this land.”
Hitting out at those levelling allegations against him, Fernandes said he had even invited the Congress leaders to accompany them and inspect the site to clear their doubts.
“But they have not come. If I was involved in any wrongdoing, I would have gone into hiding, but I was quick to approach my board and seek clarity in the matter,” he added.
...To convene meet on Shristhal land issue
CANACONA:
Deputy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes has decided to convene a joint meeting with forest officials, Canacona Comunidade, Shri Mallikarjun Devalaya, stakeholders and complainants at the Shristhal panchayat hall after eight days, to clarify certain doubts raised by locals regarding forest land in the village.
“Till then, status quo will be maintained and no activities will be allowed in Survey 184/5 and 185/5,” said Fernandes, who is also chairperson of the Goa Forest Development Corporation (GFDC).
During a site inspection, Shri Mallikarjun Devalaya President Rajendra Dessai questioned forest officials over the wrong demarcation of Devalaya land in Survey 185/5 as forest land.
Another resident demanded to see the payment receipt by which the forest department got the property from Canacona Comunidade, while some other locals alleged that land had been usurped by unscrupulous elements and had been illegally sold.
With several queries being raised regarding the status of forest land, Fernandes said all stakeholders, including the forest department, Canacona Comunidade, the Shri Mallikarjun Devalaya and the complainants would meet with all proper documentation and resolve the matter of land ownership.
Fernandes sought eight days for the forest officers to trace all relevant documents and said a joint meeting would be convened in the Shrishthal panchayat hall.
According to sources, some matters of Survey 184/5 and 185/5 is pending in courts and the Shri Mallikarjun Devalaya President Rajendra Dessai has also publicly said the Devalaya will approach the court to recover their land wrongly demarcated by the forest department.
