MARGAO
The Goa Forward Party (GFP) has lodged a strong and comprehensive objection with the Town and Country Planning Department against the proposal to convert 1,54,792 sq. mtrs of Zuari Industries’ land in Sancoale from Industrial to Settlement zone.
Party Chief Vijai Sardesai has said that this land, located under Survey Nos. 110/1 and 189/1, was originally given by the Comunidade of Sancoale for the purpose of establishing industries to provide employment for Goans. He pointed out that the attempt to now convert this same land into settlement zone is a complete betrayal of the original intent and amounts to selling Goa piece-by-piece for private profit.
“The GFP would like to emphasize that even the Chief Minister had assured in the Assembly that this land would not be converted. Assurances are given publicly, but behind the scenes the process of land conversion continues. This is not governance, this is deception”, he said.
He added: “The land lies close to a natural lake and groundwater catchment area. Any change in zoning will disrupt the water recharge system, increase flooding and sewage overflow, it will put strain on an already overburdened local infrastructure, and even destroy green cover and ecological balance.
The GFP has warned that such decisions do not just impact Sancoale, they set a precedent for handing over more employment-designated land across Goa to builders and private lobbies.
The party has demanded that the TCP reject the proposal fully and immediately, suspend all similar conversion requests until proper scientific studies are conducted, and involve the Comunidade and local residents in decision-making, not bypass them.
“This Zuari land was originally given by Goa’s first Chief Minister, Bhausaheb Bandodkar, to the Birlas for industrialisation, to create jobs for Goemkars. It was never meant to be handed over to builders for real estate profiteering. Inside the Assembly, the Chief Minister assured me and the people that the land would not be converted from industrial to settlement. Yet outside, the exact opposite is being pushed forward. This is nothing short of one of the biggest land scams unfolding in Goa today, a betrayal of public trust and of Goa’s future. We will not allow our green cover, our identity, and our Goenkarponn to be sold off to the highest bidder. Goa is NOT for sale”, he added.
