MARGAO
Comunidades from across Goa have red-flagged the government’s move to introduce a Bill to regularise illegal structures and encroachments on comunidade land.
Representatives of around 67 comunidade bodies sounded the war bugle against the government, as they have pledged to take the battle to the High Court and the Supreme Court if the government "bulldozes" ahead with the Bill in the coming session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
Representatives of the comunidade bodies from the North, Central and South zones kicked off their campaign against the government move to regularise the illegal structures on the comunidade land at Chinchinim on Monday.
Shareholders and members of the Managing Committees participated in the discussion at the Chinchinim Comunidade office on Monday morning. Aam Aadmi Party MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva also made their presence felt at the meeting and assured the comunidade representatives that they would take up the issue in the upcoming session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
Those present at the meeting opposed the proposed Bills to amend the Comunidade Code and vowed to oppose the amendment "tooth and nail" and challenge the Bills in the High Court and the Supreme Court, if required.
Franky Monteiro wondered who the government could bring in with the Amendment Bills to regularise the illegal structures when the government had, way back in 1995, enacted the Goa Land Prohibition of Construction Act, restricting illegal constructions on certain lands, including land belonging to the government and comunidade.
"The government has, to date, not penalised a single party for illegal structures on comunidade land as per this Act. And, after 30 years, the government is now trying to regularise the illegal structures,” he said, while demanding action against the illegal structures based on the 1995 Act.
Concerned citizen and social activist Avertin Miranda said the government has no authority to regularise the illegal structures on comunidade land, adding that the latest government move is just to keep the migrant vote in a happy mood ahead of the upcoming elections.
“We all have to join hands to bring back the encroached land to the comunidades,” he said, calling on the comunidades to "start a revolution to save the land belonging to their ancestors".
President of Chinchinim Comunidade, Agnelo Furtado, said the government’s move to regularise the illegal structures on comunidade land has raised anxiety in the minds of the people. While strongly objecting to the government’s move, Furtado underscored the need to protect the age-old bodies for posterity.
Another comunidade stakeholder said the campaign to save comunidades had started from Chinchinim and would culminate at Borim next to the local temple.
Chinchinim Comunidade stakeholder Cyril Leitao condemned the statement made by Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho that illegal structures on comunidade land would be regularised, reminding that encroachments on comunidade land began during the post-Liberation period.
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AAP MLAs pledge support against encroachment Bill
MARGAO: Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, made common cause with the shareholders and managing committee of the comunidade bodies, who are up in arms against the government’s proposed move to regularise illegal constructions on comunidade land.
The duo assured the comunidade stakeholders that they would be their voice in opposing the proposed amendments to regularise the illegal structures.
While addressing the stakeholders, Venzy said he and Cruz Silva had been with the people over the last three and a half years, as he promised that the two MLAs would represent the stakeholders and fight for the rights of the comunidades.
“We will live up to the expectations of the people of Goa. My only request is please don’t demotivate the MLAs, who are fighting for the people,” he said.
MLA Cruz promised the comunidade stakeholders that he would rally behind them in the battle to save the comunidades for posterity.
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Administrator alerted on rogue petitions
MARGAO: The Goa Panchayat Raj Institutions has petitioned the South Goa Administrator of Comunidades with a plea to refrain from entertaining suo motu actions or proceedings based on representations or claims made by certain comunidade groups that are not registered under the Societies Act, 1860.
Convenor J Santano Rodrigues has said that entertaining suo motu actions based on claims made by unregistered groups may lead to unauthorised and potentially harmful decisions that could affect the rights and interests of legitimate comunidade members and stakeholders.
He requested the Administrator to verify the legitimacy and registration status of any comunidade groups before considering their claims or representations. This will ensure that only authorised and legitimate representatives of the comunidades are heard and considered, he added.
