Against the backdrop of angry protests seeking the scrapping of the contentious Section 39 (A) of the Town and Country Planning Act, the growing unrest over clearing mega housing projects in rural Goa is also taking centerstage with gram sabha voices opposing unregulated development.
People across several villages, including Parra, Betalbatim, Curtorim, Betul, Sarzora, and Tivim, are raising concerns about mega projects impacting resources and causing ecological damage. In Betalbatim, the fight has shifted to courtrooms, with over a dozen mega projects facing scrutiny. Sarzora is facing a churn over a mega project of villas, each equipped with a swimming pool. Maina-Curtorim is also rising up against a proposed housing-cum-commercial project in the village. And to top it all, the IPB clearance to an Aerosports project at the Quitol-Betul plateau is met with stiff opposition, with locals fearing habitat destruction, disturbance to wildlife and irreversible damage to the ecosystem.
In Parra, however, the villagers have pioneered a unique and comprehensive policy that regulates construction licences after technical clearance, emphasising environmental safeguards, infrastructural capacity, and heritage preservation. Their policy restricts building height, prohibits multi-dwelling units, mandates rainwater harvesting, solar energy, and tree protection, and asserts the Panchayat’s constitutional authority to scrutinize projects beyond mere technical conformity. This policy brings in a ray of hope to what otherwise appears to be a helpless situation, and could be a game-changer for villages opposing rampant development.
Water scarcity has been one of the major factors that has led villagers to oppose further development. Past assurances, both from builders and authorities, to prioritise village welfare have failed, leaving locals to face the brunt. Goa’s water supply has been dwindling, with locals now finding comfort in a maximum of three-hour supply. The groundwater levels are also not encouraging. The identity of villages is undergoing a change at a rapid pace, and it is left to the people of the land to defend their turf.
The question is, why is the government not going for a village-wise carrying capacity study? Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho blinked last year when legislators on the floor of the Legislative Assembly pressed for a need to document the capacities of villages, a study that can work as a guide in sanctioning projects. Almost seven months later, nothing has moved. A study has to be undertaken on the density of population in the area, power consumption, water availability and garbage management. Sanctioning projects without considering these parameters could be disastrous for the villagers. Economics cannot be a priority over the welfare of the villagers, especially when these mega projects don’t serve the needs of locals.
The government cannot claim helplessness over a study, especially the Panchayat Minister. If the State is unable to undertake a study, the government can very well assign the job to a suitable agency. It is sad that Goan villages are losing their identity and vibes, and it is equally sad that ministers are turning a blind eye to this. The government that enjoys a brute majority has to show intent and a strong will to protect the character of our villages. And let politicos not forget, the road to '2027' also runs through these distressed villages.
