In other news, Manoj Parab resigns as the President of Revolutionary Goans and quits politics.

Source: InGoa24x7 News

Goa is facing an ecological and cultural crisis. Let me explain the modus operandi behind this systematic destruction. And how mega-housing colonies like Sattva, Mohidin, Bhutani, Umiya, Prabhu, Bose, Gera, Lodha, Yugen etc. have spread.

It begins with the transaction of ecologically sensitive land—fields, private forests, khazans, and hill slopes—often to non-Goans at a premium price. Once these lands are sold, the new owners typically erect fences to demarcate their property. This fencing serves a dual purpose: it protects their investment while simultaneously isolating these areas from the surrounding ecosystems. Behind these barriers, a series of destructive actions unfold—trees are cut down, land is filled in, forest fires are ignited, and hills are cut away.

What was once a lush, vibrant landscape is rapidly turned into barren land.

The next step involves seeking permissions for land conversion. These requests are often granted without delay by government authorities. Their Gazzette posts are purely performative and their official site inspections only confirm the poor ecological status of the land with no excuse left to deny the "settlement conversion" request.

This formula has proven effective for the politician-builder nexus, leading to the reclassification of over 950,000 square meters of land under Section 39(A) as settlements (since 2022 alone - more land converted in these last 3 years than all land converted since Goa gained statehood in 1987).

This co-incided with the post-pandemic rise in demand for real estate from migrant settler's relocating from larger metropolitan areas. The result? A gradual yet relentless shift from natural landscapes to concrete jungles, particularly in regions adjacent to urban expansion corridors.

What is deeply concerning is not just the scale of this transformation but the speed at which it is occurring. The rapid influx of migrants has also led to a competition for jobs and opportunities, pushing many locals to seek employment abroad in places like Europe, Gulf region and on the high seas. This creates a cycle of displacement and loss, where the very people who have called Goa home for generations are forced to leave their roots behind.

TLDR: This systematic destruction begins with ecologically sensitive lands sold to non-Goans, followed by fencing, deforestation, and land conversion approved without proper scrutiny. The destruction of our natural heritage and the displacement of our local communities are intertwined. We must recognize this as more than just an environmental issue; it is an ecological genocide of Goa.