PANAJI: Farmers of Salpem Tollem, Rawanfond, Sinquetim, Davorlim, Varca and nearby villages have resolved that no agricultural land in their villages will be allowed to be acquired.

Farmers, who met under the initiative of Salpem Tollem Xetkarancho Ekvott at Rosary School hall in Navelim, opposed acquisition of fields admeasuring 272000 sq mts. They alleged that the authorities have commenced a number of senseless acquisitions of agricultural lands all over Goa. They observed that many ongoing government projects have been planned only in eco-sensitive lands which are also used for agricultural purposes. The deliberate acquisitions of large eco-sensitive lands for irreversible change are a lethal assault on our environment, our lives and the future of Goa, they said.

Mr Melwyn Pereira spoke on pollution of Salpem Lake and how the farmers had to stop farming due to pollution. He questioned development that took place at the expense of Salpem lake.

Mr Sidharth Karapurkar said that Land Acquisition Act 1894 was a British act designed to grab land from Indians for the East India Company. "Why is Goa government using the British act to grab land from its own people," he asked.