SATURDAY, MAY 04, 2024
Alfred Fernandes
SANGUEM: The Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini (GBA) Bill, 2021 stands passed in the Goa Legislative Assembly but Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai’s assent to the Bill will spell doom for around 89 “missing” families (the original inhabitants) who had sacrificed their ancestral land for the construction of the Selaulim Dam.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said in the Goa Legislative Assembly that the GBA Bill provides for a mechanism to give ownership right to the self-occupied dweller of a small housing unit to enable him to live with dignity and self-respect and exercise his right to life.
He added that a 'Bhumiputra' is defined as a person who has been residing in the State of Goa for at least 30 years.
He had stated that such persons shall not be evicted from the dwelling unit occupied by him and the dwelling unit shall not be demolished during the pendency of any proceedings under this Act.
The bill which was passed will now prove to be a boon to those who have encroached upon the government land at Damal, within the vicinity of the dam with the “Bhumiputra” tag.
The families residing on the WRD owned land at Damal around 100 metres away from Selaulim Dam had moved to these makeshift houses during the dam construction as some of their members were working as drivers/labourers for the contractor at the dam construction site.
Nearly three decades later after the project completion, these families numbering over 30 continue to reside in these makeshift houses some of which have now turned into pucca structures.
It is pertinent to note that ever since the dam’s completion, the WRD officials are involved in a legal tangle as these “encroachers” despite several notices, have failed to vacate the place despite its strategic location to the dam.
According to sources, the eviction cases have reportedly piled up either before the concerned authorities for further hearings and adjudication of the dispute as most residents possess documents such as Ration Card, Aadhaar Card, EPIC, electricity bills and others to prove their habitation on the encroached land.
The bill will make these “encroachers” permanent residents on the government land. The bill will give them ownership rights of 250 sq mtrs per family. However, the ground reality is that around 89 “missing” families, the original inhabitants of Goa, who sacrificed their ancestral land to pave way for the construction of Selaulim Dam, will be compelled to run from pillar to post with regards to paper work to prove themselves as “Bhumiputras”.
The bill has already generated much opposition from a large section of the society.
Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar held a press conference to oppose the draconian law but the ruling MLAs have remained mum on the issue.
Months ago, the WRD officials demolished an agricultural plantation of a Damal resident on government property.
“The passing of the draconian law will harm Goa and Goans. The government has gone a step ahead only to please the migrant vote bank,” claimed a Sanguem resident.
