The decision to raise 100 illegal structures, in Pedamol on the land of communidade of Shirvoi by the government is a huge step towards checking the almost take over and loot of communidade land by officials of the communidade and powerful forces.
At a time when regularisation of irregularities seems to be the order of the day, as far as dwellings like slums and other structures are concerned, this decision is a balm. Herald can humbly but unequivocally claim that it had a role to play in the coverage of the issue right from exposing it for the people of Goa, to investigating how exactly the illegalities of the loot of land happened. The contours of the story (Read Herald of May 26,2016 and June 4, 2016 for the main stories of the investigation) are as follows. Our investigations revealed how 200 houses have been built on communidade land, mainly by migrants from Karnataka and others, at Pedamol (Quepem taluka) who were allowed use of this land. We have further learnt that the Attorney of this Communidade issued affidavits falsely declaring the buyers as mundkars or tenants.
Herald got an affidavit which has been sworn by the then Attorney of the Comunidade to facilitate buyers of land at Pedamol. One of the affidavits (and it is almost certain that many such were issued) sworn by Shri Ghanashyam Anant Sinai Shirvoikar, elected Attorney of Sirvoi Comunidade stated that different properties were occupied, possessed and continuously enjoyed by different mundkars, cum tenants having their respective residential dwelling houses in the respective portions/parts of the property.
In one stroke, migrants were certified as mundkars, when in reality land was “sold” to them, illegally and falsely, with no valid documents at throw away prices. In some cases, wealthy people from Margao and Vasco also “bought” these lands at dirt cheap prices and resold them to migrants.
So basically, it was a free for all at Pedamol, as it is in most communidade lands, which have been used as personal property by corrupt communidade officials and often by powerful political lobbies from Shirvoi to Serula.
Land belonging to the communidade in Pedamol now had absolutely illegal houses with gardens with cars and garages. They had power and water connections and even dustbins places by the municipality for their waste disposal, almost cementing the illegalities with government amenities.
The decision to raise the structures at Pedamol may be significant, but they will be symbolic only if two things are also done. Firstly, a similar approach should be followed across the state when it is clear that the illegalities are completely blatant and there are grave suspicions of pecuniary gains. Secondly, if investigations prove, as inquiries held in the Pedamol case should have, that Attorneys of the Communidade and /or other officials are involved in acts which come under the purview of Anti Corruption laws, then cases should be filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau and investigations kick started.
Moreover, at a time when regularisation of illegal structures, even on communidade land is the way the government wants to move forward, the government needs to exercise caution. Interestingly, Mauvin Godinho, in his earlier avatar as Congress MLA, appreciably did ask the government not to allow any more illegal structures on the communidade land all over Goa thereafter. He also said that construction of illegal structures on communidade land should be considered as criminal offence. And come out with a legislation at the earliest so as to protect communidade land, which are been illegally grabbed. But the fact remains that Godinho still batted for regularisation of illegal structures. His stand as Panchayat Minister should be now made clear.
But the point is that while we move ahead, we cannot whitewash the past sins of communidade officials and close all chapters of illegal acts and then ask for a clean slate in the future. The past illegalities have to be accounted for.
