​

On May 26, the Goa government announced its intention to declare 56 villages as urban areas giving the public 30 days to cite opposition. This notification, received by many Panchayats only after June 20, ignited an uproar among activists and residents.

The villages include those in Pernem (4), Bardez (16), Bicholim (1), Sattari (1), Tiswadi (9), Ponda (9), Salcete (10), Mormugao (4) and Quepem (2). With ongoing protests against mega-housing projects and large-scale land conversions, Goemkars persuaded the government to withdraw the notification.

So, let's examine what happened this last week and why we must remain vigilant.

The saga started with a re-circulation of an old notification issued by the government vide No. 16/1/1/2020-Rev-I/2980 dated January 27, 2020 to classify 56 villages. This was officially withdrawn in its entirety via Notification No. 16/1/1/2020-Rev-I/3058 on February 18, 2020. Yet the government re-circulated the same in May 2026 with the letter giving no reason but saying it's "self-explanatory".

While the government claimed that urban status will enhance civic infrastructure and unlock central funding, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Residents are already grappling with water shortages, power cuts, congested roads, and inadequate waste management. How can we trust that rebranding these villages as urban will not exercebate these persistent issues?

The implications of urban classification under the Goa Land Revenue Code are alarming. It takes power away from Village Panchayat's and gives it to the Planning and Development Authority (PDA). It could triple Floor Area Ratio (FAR) limits, transforming traditional homes and agricultural lands into dense constructions. What will this mean for our ecological balance and the preservation of khazan lands and natural water bodies?

The ulterior motives behind this urban classification are evident, as most targeted villages are located along rivers and the sea. By declaring them urban, the government would pave the way for tall buildings and massive construction with "sea-facing views". Given that the same proposal was withdrawn in February 2020 after massive protests, what does this repeated attempt say about the government's commitment to sell Goa?!

Moreover, the government’s decision comes just as The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is conducting a land carrying-capacity study. How can we reconcile this premature urban reclassification with the need for sustainable development?

This withdrawal of "urban" notification is a small step. But Goans must remain vigilant. The Town and Country Planning department continues to notify conversions of ecologically sensitive land, even while litigation on section 39(A) of TCP Act is ongoing.

Meanwhile the Goa government is publishing already non-development land as "non-development" in the official gazette i.e. No change in land status. Do they want to eventually say that all the land that's NOT officially declared as "non development" is open for conversions?!

Goa's rural identity is one of its greatest strengths. Are we willing to fight to protect it from unchecked urban expansion?

P.S. Image is AI-generated. Content represents opinion and contains facts from different media reports.

The Mhaje Ghar Scheme has recently made headlines in Goa, pushed as a significant initiative aimed at providing ownership rights to those occupying residential structures built illegally on comunidade land, government lands, and private lands prior to 1972. This scheme involves amendments to three existing laws: The Code of Comunidades, the Goa Land Revenue Code, and the Regularisation of Unauthorised Constructions Act (RUCA). While it is presented as a boon for local Goans, does it not seem more like a calculated move to benefit illegal migrant settlers?

Historically, many local Goans who had pre-existing houses on land that did not belong to them received plots under the Mundkar Act. The Mhaje Ghar scheme appears to be a rebranding of the controversial Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Act, 2021, which aimed to grant ownership rights to self-occupied small dwelling units built before 2019 for individuals residing in Goa for 30 years. Why was this previous act never implemented despite its intent to assist long-term residents?

The cut-off date for the Mhaje Ghar scheme is February 28, 2014, allowing anyone who occupied comunidade or government land before this date to claim ownership. This recent date raises concerns, as it disproportionately benefits thousands of illegal migrant settlers in areas like Zuarinagar, Sancoale, Monte Dongor, Margao, and Khorlim Mapusa. Is it fair to prioritize the claims of these settlers over the interests of local Goans who have lived in the state for generations?

To expedite the process, the Goa government is fast-tracking document delivery, ensuring beneficiaries receive official approval letters and ownership orders directly at their doorsteps. The Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant, has stated that the regularisation process is being treated as a "war front" across the state. With elections approaching in 2027, is it not apparent that this initiative is strategically timed to counteract the growing anti-government sentiment among local Goans?

When the scheme was launched by central minister Amit Shah, he claimed it would grant ownership rights to 11 lakh people, potentially impacting almost half of Goa's population. This raises an important question: why are so many residents landless and living in illegal structures? With approximately 10,57,566 eligible voters in Goa, could this scheme single-handedly alter the voting landscape and shift electoral interests away from local Goans?

Goa has increasingly become a sanctuary for celebrities and High-Net-Worth individuals seeking an escape. But has anyone thought about it's impact on the local community and environment?

Over the last three years (since the government passed the land conversion laws) real estate market in Goa has risen by 30 - 60% in prime areas. While this has improved economic opportunities to the builders, everyone else has suffered.

Celebrities buying houses has attracted the attention of both tourists and migrant settler's who want to be in proximity to these people.

But it's also led to massive deforestation and hill-cutting as previously ecological land has been converted to settlement. These high-end villas and gated communities have disrupted the balance of the coastal and forest land.

As property prices soar, locals are being priced out and unable to afford housing. Not to mention the rising grocery costs, electricity cuts and scant water supply are impacting daily life.

These celebrities have long taken advantage of the good nature of Goans. While some of them have their hearts in the right place (see picture) is it really good for Goa?

Source : https://x.com/KannadaVaccine/status/2062225106840240410

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.