The sudden demolition drive launched by North Goa Collector on Thursday, at Old Goa, had led to furious reactions from stall owners, citizens and panchayat members alike, since they claim no prior notice was given. Heavy machinery and police descended on the historic city, after Archaeological Survey of India notices were served, to clear it of illegal vendors and kiosks, even as women and aged men, pleaded with police to spare their 30 year old livelihoods.
Amid all this local MLA Pandurang Madkaikar was conspicuous by his absence, both at the demolition site and at his residence. Where was the MLA when people needed him most? Or was this a shrewd move by Madkaikar to stay out of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar led government’s way, to protect his own interests?
The decision to go ahead with the drive ahead of the decennial Exposition was perfectly justifiable. But it could have been done in a more humane and organised manner by rehabilitating the poor vendors first, and allowing them time to salvage their belongings, from refrigerators to other costly equipment.
The irony was too obvious to be missed. While the poor get “demolished” the politically powerful who encroach and usurp land and build unauthorised structures, get nothing razed except their reputations. and that doesn’t really matter to them.
The larger questions haunting political observers, heritage activists and the clergy itself is whether the government has the will to act with the same alacrity as political encroachers including the MLA Pandurang Madkaikar against whom there are allegations of usurping land. Though the government has initiated an inquiry against Madkaikar, in a case involving land for a petrol pump the MLA wants to build, with the Anti Corruption Bureau, this will be counted only when any inquiry finally results in conviction and punishment for those against whom the charges are too clear and specific to remain in the zone of doubt.
The Chief Minister during the Assembly July-August session said that he would order a probe by Anti Corruption Bureau regarding the purchase 9,475 sq mts land (belonging to Anant Sinai Dhume), bought for the construction of a police station, but now belongs to Madkaikar Realtors. Parrikar declared this “clear cut misuse of land acquisition process for personal benefit” and directed ANC to probe the matter. The ANC has asked Home Department to file a formal complaint in this regard. But the irony is Madkaikar did this when he was transport minister in the previous BJP government. So why has the government not proceeded at lightning pace against Madkaikar as done against the poor stall owners, even as they will be on the streets?
Madkaikar who was originally elected in 2002, was part of the BJP government but swiftly switched to the Congress in 2005 to remain in power. Like many other MLAs, he has a stranglehold on the panchayat to get all permissions with a quid pro quo. The clergy, activists and citizens that they have formed the Save Old Goa Action Committee solely to immunize the old city from encroachment of such rampant nature. His moves to construct his own palatial house behind the Basilica of Bom Jesus, even as there is a buffer zone within 300 metres and UNESCO mandated no development zone within 1 km has been a part of the canvas of controversy of old Goa.
It’s unfair that livelihoods of people who barely survive are snatched from them, whereas its political class is systematically getting richer and richer by misusing office and amassing enormous wealth. The government has to act as the protector of the downtrodden, and bring quick conclusion to the cases involving politicians, accused of being involved in massive land scams, beginning with Old Goa.
