Goa is on the boil, and Goans everywhere seem to be up in arms against mega projects, constructions on slopes and fields, cutting of hills, felling of trees, and filling of low-lying areas, as these threaten our environment, risk lives, and could lead to possible landslides and flooding of residential areas and surroundings. These actions will, sadly, also change our demography, which is perhaps the objective of successive governments, besides allowing illegal wealth to be amassed through underhand dealings. When Goa has 25% of houses and apartments vacant, why such massive constructions if not for non-Goans? This would impact our social life and could eventually lead to unrest, disturbing the peace and tranquillity we have enjoyed for centuries.
Furthermore, with buyers mainly from Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru offering fabulous prices for a piece of our land, without being questioned about the source of funds, land prices have been pushed up and are now out of reach for ordinary Goans. This must stop promptly, though it could adversely affect some Goan landowners. A law is necessary in this regard, and we must push for it.
Better late than never, Goans in general seem to have realised the impending dangers of this destruction and of mega constructions by the land mafia. Fortunately, it is no longer a small section of the Goan community that is involved in protests. Now people from all over ” be it in Sancoale, Reis Magos, Chimbel, Carmona, Chicalim, Ponda taluka, Bhoma, Morjim, Mandrem, Pernem, and various other places ” have come out in the open to oppose this self-development by ministers, MLAs, bureaucrats, and even members of the Expert Committee of TCP, as reported by a leading national daily, which has also named some of them. Panchayats and municipalities, which are the administrators of villages and cities, along with Gramsabhas, must approve the projects before the TCP can accord its clearance, which is only technical.
People are particularly angered by the mega projects in Reis Magos and Sancoale, consisting of highly-priced villas and apartments, some with swimming pools, built on hills and slopes after the felling of hundreds of trees. What is happening at these two places is nothing short of criminal, with the possibility of Wayanad-type tragedies. The FSI of 200% in Sancoale, in an area previously declared as a private forest, is a real scam, with this government hurrying with this and other huge projects because it perhaps already senses that it could soon be out of power, with discontent brewing all over.
Even the state’s highest bureaucrat, the Chief Secretary, was allegedly shamelessly tempted to purchase an illegal bungalow in a paddy field where he himself approved the land conversion to settlement. What a disgrace! And he might escape unscathed.
