Four years back the Goa Legislative Assembly adopted a unanimous Resolution asking the Central Government to grant Special Status to Goa and to ensure that state preserves its unique identity. It seems that the previous Goa government or the MPs have not shown much interest or not presented the case properly to the Centre.
The feeling of being colonized has not yet left us. We are concerned about the conversion of villages (meant for Goans to build their homes) into concrete jungles. We could understand if there is a shortage of housing for local people. And why is agricultural land being converted into non- agricultural land, and zoning and FSI being changed? The continuous influx of migrants is rapidly changing the demography of our tiny State which has a population of over 14 lakhs. How can we in Goa sustain a further increase in population?
At present we are concerned by lack of job opportunities , sale of land, exploitation of mines , stench of rancid garbage, plundering of green zones for concrete mega projects, sky rocketing of prices and cost of living , full implementation of the official Language Act etc. Goa ought to have been given the Special Status soon after liberation, as Goa was not part of the part of constituent Assembly deliberations; it was liberated through army intervention in 1961.
In the name of the national interest we have lost vast tracks of agricultural land to various projects. Goa has become notorious over the years as a drug heaven. Coastal youth have gone astray; many of them are involved in drug trade Russian and Israelis have taken over vast stretches of land, The number of casinos are increasing on our rivers encouraging of gambling and other vices thou damaging Goa’s image. If some remedial steps are not taken immediately there is a big threat to Goans being displaced from their own land and losing their identity.
In order to preserve, Goa’s identity our Government should pass a fresh resolution in the legislative assembly demanding for special status in Goa and convince the centre to grant it special provisions under article 371 of the constitution for protection of land and migrant population.
