From Pernem to Pollem and Mollem and Panjim, if there's one issue today that is common across Goa, then it is the abuse of powers to convert land and illegally destroy the State’s greenery. Land sharks in connivance with the locals are transforming Goa into a concrete landscape. The recent cases of rampant hill cutting and illegally converting land into development zones, including parts of eco-sensitive zones, point towards the government, administration and all its machinery being involved in putting Goa's limited resource on sale. The latest case of the Chief Secretary’s involvement in the purchase of agricultural land in North Goa allegedly converted to settlement land illegally is an example of how deep rooted the problem is.
Until recently, in the last two years, Goa had been flooded with allegations, accusations and cases of illegal land grabbing. Ancestral properties belonging to NRIs were clandestinely grabbed and further sold to land sharks for construction purposes. Last year, after the government constituted an SIT in the land grabbing cases, 88 cases were registered and 49 arrests were made by SIT. Despite the shocking revelations in the land grabbing cases, the State government has not been able to fight the land sharks with an iron fist. When the head of the administration is involved in land purchase, which is alleged to have been converted illegally, then the government and the administration have a lot to answer to the people of Goa.
Mega projects belonging to large real estate development companies have been approved by the government, and when brought to the notice that these projects include massive hill cutting, the TCP minister has claimed that no permissions were granted to anyone for hill cutting across the State. The Chief Minister said that the TCP department or the investment promotion and facilitation board does not grant permission for hill cutting, but only grants permission for the projects. Isn't it ironic that when projects are granted permission, the details of the project are overlooked and such blatant irregularities are committed? If the project was not granted permission for hill cutting, then how can a project proponent go to the extent of mercilessly carving out the State’s pristine greenery?
Goa has always been a favourite destination for a post-retirement home or a second home for people across the country. Goa's landscape is 3,702 km² and according to records, 58% of land is under forest cover which includes the world’s eco-sensitive areas of the Western Ghats. The real estate lobbies from outside the State are eyeing pieces of the valuable 35% land to create a fortune for themselves. Social media platforms are filled with advertisements, promoting homes, development plots, business hotels for sale, etc, in Goa, all at a premium price that is not affordable to Goans.
In the meanwhile, there have been constant amendments to laws related to land use. In the last two years, the State has seen the impact of Sections 16B and 17(2) of TCP Act and the massive conversions and correction of the land. Unprecedented hill cutting, shaving of forested hill slopes and replacing them with concrete jungles is all being done with impunity. The verdancy of several villages across the State is being mercilessly replaced by bricks and mortar.
The government departments and ministers are passing the buck to one another, including the Chief Minister, and therefore one can certainly say that the people of Goa are sceptic about the intentions of those governing the State. In such circumstances to safeguard, what is left of Goa, it is important that either the Courts intervene or the Central government constitutes a Commission to carry out an audit and survey of the land in the State. How much of the land remains forest land? What are the reasons Goans are abandoning agriculture and why? For after a few years, these abandoned farmlands are being converted into development zones. Only an investigation by an independent panel under the supervision of the Apex Court will put an end to the rampant illegalities being carried out under the guise of developing the State of Goa.