Sword of uncertainity hangs over Dhangars at Mopa

RUPESH SAMANT (PTI), PANAJI | 10 May 2012 12:45 IST

File photo of Dhangar couple at Mopa (Courtesy: Rajan Parrikar)

Families of nomadic Dhanagar tribe living on the plateau acquired by the state government for Greenfield airport at Mopa are feeling lost.

The proposed airport project has brought in uncertainty for these families, who have been living here for almost a century now.

Bhago Warak, 80, was born here in the hamlet of the Mopa plateau. The family has now multiplied; there are five more houses of Waraks here.

Few more people from same nomadic Dhangar tribe have joined the league sharing the plateau, amicably.

It takes almost one hour rough ride through non-tarred road to reach this plateau from the main Mopa village.

The plateau is named Mopa-Sodo.

The parched plateau is a home for 12 families. From far-off, the village resembles a desert with scorching sun wreaking havoc on the rocky land. 

Majority of the houses are having palm thatched roofs, barring couple of them having roof tiles. Every house has a goat stable.

“Things were all right till 2000. But suddenly there was a buzz of airport project planned here. Initially we thought that we would be spared as we live much away from the actual Mopa village,” Bhago explains.

Mopa is almost 30 kms North of capital city of Panaji.

“But, we were crestfallen when we saw government officers arriving here to demarcate land for the airport project,” he said puffing in beedi smoke.

Raising goats is the prime vocation of these families, whose male members travel to Pernem, a small town few kilometers away on Goa-Maharashtra border, in search of daily wage job.

These families are left in lurch as they are not sure of getting the government compensation paid for land acquisition.

“The original owners of the land are Deshprabhu, Parab, Kambli and Fauzdar families. There is no record with us to prove our rights. But we have been staying here for almost a century now,” Bhago claimed.

Goa government has fast paced the Greenfield airport project, which is expected to take shape by 2015.

The airport, once completed, is expected to accommodate wide bodied aircrafts. It would be the second airport in the coastal state.

For ages, the Dhangar families have battled against the odds. Namisha Varak, a housewife, narrates how they travel three kilometers to reach a spring to fetch fresh water.

There is also no electricity in this hamlet.

“Children have to travel three kilometers to reach the nearest road where they are picked up by a school bus. Everyday they travel two hours to reach to the bus stand,”Namisha explained.

“What will we do watching flights? There is no assurance from the government about employment to the locals. We would happily relocate ourselves, if there is some assurance of at least employment at the project,” a young school dropout said.

Local BJP legislator Rajendra Arlekar, who is also the Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly, said that `everyone affected due to airport project would be compensated.’

“Even if they have no document to prove their right of land, government will compensate them,” he assured. 


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Previous Comments

Dhangars/Velips /Gavdis are the original inhabitants of Goa.....all others are InVADERS....

- Lina Vaz, Betal batim | 29 th May 2012 08:44

 

I hope and wish that the hard working Dhangars in Mopa will be compensated well.

Government should give them money and 'pucca' houses even if they have been living in huts.

They should also get access to land to cultivate what they like and take their goats and cattle to graze.

Since they have settled there for years, whether they have documents or not should not matter.

Let us hope that Speaker Arlekar who is their local MLA will keep his promise and help the displaced families.

Once uprooted, it becomes difficult for families to settle in the new place. However, Dhangars are tough and with good compensation, they will be able to manage.

- Francisco G. Lourenco, England | 11 th May 2012 19:15

 

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