MAPUSA
In the tranquil village of Pomburpa, a fierce battle is brewing between the local residents and the looming presence of mega construction projects.
For the people of this closely-knit community, protecting their hills and green spaces has become a matter of life and death, with many warning they will fight to preserve their land “till they drop dead.”
The growing resistance is driven by a deep sense of frustration, fuelled by the government's slow response to the concerns raised by the villagers.
At the heart of the controversy is a development project spearheaded by renowned fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani in the eco-sensitive zone of Ecoxim, along with the purchase of 35,000 square meters of land by Delhi-based businessman Mohit Agarwal.
“This is our land, and we will fight to save it. Don’t play with our village. If we come out, leaders won’t know where to hide,” declared Dhirendra Phadte, a young resident of Ecoxim, echoing the defiant sentiment of many in the village.
The anger stems from the perceived exploitation of Pomburpa’s land by outsiders.
Phadte alleged that the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department has colluded with developers to push through projects in no-development zones (NDZ), ignoring the ecological sensitivity of the area.
“In Tahiliani’s case, the High Court ruled in our favour, but the TCP has done nothing but issue a show-cause notice. It’s been over a year, and we still don’t know the status of the case,” Phadte said.
Villagers are particularly alarmed by the conversion of land owned by Mohit Agarwal under Section 17(2) of the TCP Act.
Phadte questioned how a property with a steep 65-degree gradient, located in a no-development zone, could be transformed into a settlement area.
“If the government doesn’t withdraw these conversions within 15 to 20 days, we will launch an all-Goa protest,” he warned.
The resistance in Pomburpa has drawn comparisons to the recent successful protests in Sancoale, where locals rallied against a large-scale construction project by the Bhutani Group.
Inspired by that victory, Pomburpa’s young and old are uniting to protect their village’s natural beauty and biodiversity.
In November last year, the villagers launched a sustained campaign against Tehlani’s project, prompting the local panchayat to issue a stop-work order. However, despite this small victory, the residents continue to feel that their concerns are being sidelined by the authorities.
Alvito D’Souza, Chairman of the Biodiversity Management Committee in Pomburpa, emphasized the importance of preserving the village’s rich biodiversity.
“We are trying to protect our land for future generations. The Pomburpa Comunidade has unanimously resolved to oppose any conversions in this eco-sensitive zone,” he said.
Former panchayat member Gamlin Fernandes added that the village’s landscape has drastically changed over the last 15 years, with land sales to outsiders – particularly from Delhi – on the rise.
“They’re buying land without any regard for its classification as private, orchard, or NDZ,” Fernandes said, lamenting the lack of support from local politicians.
He accused some of these leaders of accepting bribes to push through development projects at the cost of the village’s heritage and environment.
As the villagers continue their fight, they are calling for transparency, accountability and protection of their land from what they see as exploitative commercial interests.
Their struggle is not just about preserving Pomburpa’s hills and greenery – it’s about safeguarding the soul of the village itself.
