Demands halt to survey in non-eligible areas
MARGAO
Madganvcho Awaaz and youth leader Prabhav Naik have expressed grave concern over the manner in which the NAKSHA Survey is being implemented in Goa.
He demanded that the government immediately halt the NAKSHA Survey in non-eligible areas, place all eligibility criteria, approvals and details of fund utilisation in the public domain, and conduct village-level consultations before proceeding further. Transparency, accountability and protection of traditional rights must be ensured, failing which people will be compelled to oppose such actions in defence of Goa’s villages, Naik warned
“The survey, which is meant exclusively for urban areas under the guidelines issued by the Government of India, is now being extended to villages without transparency, creating widespread apprehension among citizens,” stated Prabhav Naik.
He said villages in and around Margao such as Davorlim, Navelim, Nuvem, Raia, Seraulim and villages of Veroda, Ambelim around Cuncolim, and Taleigaon, Santa Cruz, Bambolim and other areas around Panaji are being brought under the NAKSHA Survey with barely 24 hours’ notice to residents. Such short notice undermines public participation and raises serious questions about the intent behind the exercise, especially when land and habitation rights are directly affected, Naik said.
He further stated that what is particularly disturbing is the admission by the Director concerned that even Margao, Cuncolim and Panaji do not fulfil the Centre’s prescribed criteria for inclusion under the NAKSHA scheme. Despite this, surrounding villages are being quietly included, pointing towards procedural irregularities and possible manipulation of the scheme’s objectives, he added.
Naik have cautioned that extending the survey to non-eligible areas raises the serious possibility of misuse or misappropriation of public funds allocated specifically for urban mapping. Any diversion of Central funds for purposes outside the approved guidelines amounts to a violation of financial norms and warrants strict scrutiny, he said.
“Goa’s villages function under a complex legal framework involving comunidades, mundkarial rights and long-standing traditional land usage. A flawed or opaque survey risks distorting land records, legitimising illegal constructions and accelerating unplanned urbanisation, ultimately turning peaceful villages into concrete jungles”, he warned.
