Carambolim Comunidade first to oppose Bill on illegal structures

Members of the Carambolim Comunidade raise their hands in support of a resolution opposing the Bill to regularise illegal structures on Comunidade land.

OLD GOA  

The Carambolim Comunidade has become the first to oppose the Bill to regularise illegal structures on Comunidade land, with president Venzy Viegas urging other comunidades to do the same. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Carambolim Comunidade in Panaji on Sunday.  

Later, speaking to reporters, Viegas said the government had passed the Bill in an illegal manner, and therefore the Carambolim Comunidade had decided to oppose it. “The government doesn’t have any right to interfere in affairs of Comunidades and I urge all Comunidades to oppose the Bill,” he said.  

“We are here to protect the Comunidade Code and there are procedures under the Code by which structures can be regularised. But, under the Bill, if the Comunidade doesn’t give assent for regularization, the Administrator gets the right to give approval,” he added, calling this “nothing but bypassing of the Comunidades, which will not be tolerated.”  

“We have given land to Goans as well as government as and when required and there was no need to pass such a Bill,” Viegas said, adding that the resolution would now be sent to the Administrator of Comunidades and the Revenue Minister.  

A large number of members attended the meeting and supported the resolution by a show of hands.