Comunidades across Goa are up in arms against the government’s plan to bring a Bill that would regularise illegal structures and encroachments on comunidade land. Representatives from around 67 comunidade bodies have warned they will take the fight to the High Court and Supreme Court if the government forces the Bill through in the upcoming Assembly session.
Their main concern is that the Bill allows such encroachments to be legalised without the approval of the comunidade general bodies — the legal custodians of this land under existing law. It’s shocking that while the government is seen demolishing homes of local ‘niz-Goenkars’, citing court orders, it now wants to legalise illegal houses built by migrant settlers.
It appears that some ministers, who depend on migrant votes, are pushing this Bill to protect their political interests. If passed, this Bill will not only hand over comunidade land to outsiders, but also encourage more illegal land grabbing in the future. Comunidade bodies must act now to stop this anti-Goan move.
