Margao: Two days after raising concern over the issue of land-filling in agricultural land, Seraulim villagers consisting of farmers reiterated the demand to stop the activity and to restore the fields to its original state on Saturday. A memorandum has already been issued by the district collector to initiate action against illegal land-filling.

Earlier this week, villagers had sought the intervention of local MLA Venzy Viegas and had also informed the flying squad of the land-filling that was being done near the wholesale fish market. In the past too, locals had complained to the authorities that land-filling was being done in agricultural land inconveniencing the farmers. This week, the South Goa district collector had also directed deputy collectors and mamlatdars to initiate action against illegal land-filling undertaken along roadsides, in agricultural fields and other areas in the jurisdiction and to submit action-taken reports before May 5.

A villager Joaquim Dias said, “Two days back, the MLA had come with the flying squad and still now there is land-filling going on. There are stop work orders and complaints from other NGOs also, an FIR has also been filed, but the land-filling is still going on. Our demand is to restore the land.”

Former panch member Kevin D’Souza said, “The process of complaining began more than three years ago. There are orders to act but land-filling is still going on. It is worrying to see this happening especially in the fields. The irrigating path is filed, how do we find the traditional way for the water? Farmers are suffering because the path for cattle is also limited.”

MLA Viegas, who also visited the site on Saturday said, “It has been 48 hours and this is the second time we have come here. The TCP and flying squad had come here and I had spoken to the minister and he had assured me of restoration. But it is clear that nothing was done and instead the land-filling continues.”