Plan to intensify campaign, join Goa comunidades to oppose Bill
BELAGAVI
The Comunidades Amendment Bill 2025 which was passed by the Goa Government to regularise unauthorised structures on comunidade lands in Goa has sparked widespread dissent among Goan settlers residing in the Upper Ghats region.
Outraged by what they allege as the misuse of the legislative majority, several Gaonkars (traditional landholders) settled outside Goa have condemned the decision and are preparing to join forces with their counterparts in Goa to oppose the move.
These settlers, originally hailing from comunidades in North Goa such as Tivim, Aldona, Chorao, Ucassaim, and others, have long made their homes in towns across Belagavi, Khanapur, Ajara, Chandgad, and Gadhinglaj talukas.
Despite living outside Goa for decades, many have remained active in their respective comunidade affairs — including voting in committee elections — and continue to embrace Goan traditions and the Konkani language.
In a strong statement, social activist and entrepreneur Augustine alias Domnic Pereira, originally from the Tivim Comunidade and now based in Mumbai, expressed deep disappointment over the legislative development.
“We are deeply pained by the Goa Government’s decision to regularise illegal structures on our comunidade lands. This is certainly not acceptable. Many of our elected representatives have failed us by promoting such encroachments instead of protecting our heritage,” said Pereira. He urged Gaonkars across and outside Goa to unite in opposition.
Gabriel D’Souza, treasurer of Aldona Comunidade and a key figure linking Gaonkars in the Upper Ghats, also voiced his concern. “The decision has sparked urgent discussions. We have already begun coordinating meetings and will be joining hands with fellow Gaonkars across comunidades to resist this move,” he said.
Joseph Bardeskar (Rodrigues), a retired executive engineer from the Maharashtra Water Resources Department and a member of the Chorao Comunidade, stressed the need for the Goa Government to first recognise and accommodate Goan settlers in the Upper Ghats. “The government should think of allocating land or at least space for community centres where we, the original stakeholders, can gather during visits to our native places. Legalising illegal encroachments while ignoring the rightful Gaonkars is unjust,” Bardeskar said.
Many settlers believe the government’s move is politically motivated and done at the cost of valuable comunidade lands. They assert that legalising such illegal structures undermines the role and rights of original Goan landholders, both in and outside the State.
The Gaonkars in the Upper Ghats region have resolved to strengthen their campaign by coordinating closely with comunidade committees back in Goa. Their unified message is clear: they will not stay silent and will collectively fight to preserve their ancestral lands and the integrity of the comunidade system.
