The recent ED raids in Goa on money laundering and loan scams have exposed frauds such as illegal land grabbing, many involving properties of Goans settled abroad. Land has been falsely acquired and sold, showing the depth of corruption in government departments. Job scams, commissions on contracts, and other shady practices have left people frustrated as development is neglected.
There is also an unholy nexus between builders and financial institutions, cheating homebuyers through home loans. Politicians, brokers, and bureaucrats may be colluding in these scams. In recent years, Goa has witnessed a rise in such rackets, with allegations of local officials supporting land grabbers. Parts of Goa already resemble an urban sprawl. With the rising influx into the State, the demand for real estate has shot up, fuelling rampant land grabbing. Yet, the system remains broken. The government must ensure transparency and accountability in all land dealings across Goa.
