Margao comunidade is one of the largest bodies in Goa, but is losing the right over its land, mainly due to political interference
Pratik Parab
pratik@herald-goa.com
The Margao Comunidade may the biggest in terms of its land holdings but its land loss is inversely proportionate to its holdings. The latest example is the land opposite Junta quarters where several non-Goans, who were temporary residents, have built pucca houses and have been sitting there will full patronage and power. When it is election time these areas are like hot selling cakes for our netas. This is a sad story of the most unique land association of Comunidade losing its heritage due to failure of the Government mechanism and personal interests.
Margao Comunidade is one of the biggest in Goa as far as land holdings are concerned. This comunidade extends from Fradilem in Navelim up to Raia village and extending to Nuvem village. Comunidade of Margao is probably the only one in Goa which has three revenue villages under it which are Navelim, Aquem Baixo and one more. However, it has not been easy for the Comunidade to protect its land from invasion of migrant population and settlements created for political interests.
At least 50 structures and nearly triple the number of households have mushroomed in Pajifond area of Margao. These structures, most of them falling in comunidade land, have usurped the last remaining spaces and lands in urban Margao. These houses may not have numbers but have electricity and also water connections. There is a road leading towards the group of houses which narrows down further as it reaches the interior of the cluster. Surprisingly these houses have been recently built out of proper cement stones and mortar and have two-wheelers and four-wheelers parked in front of them. The overall look of the so called slum is not the one which is in its first instance. People here have LED TVs in their houses and cars worth Rs8 or 9 lakh.
The Comunidade of Margao has recently received a complaint of a full-fledged construction coming up right in the fields of comunidade land. The comunidade will reportedly be surveying the same soon and will do the needful inquiry into the matter.
Celestin Noronha, the attorney of the Margao Comunidade, said, “The purpose of having a comunidade for the lands of the state is being totally destroyed due to the rampant capture of the land. This is because of the utter lack of power to the comunidade and the lack of knowledge to the administrators.”
“We have lost so much land for no reason at all. Even clear title lands belonging to the comunidade, like the Monte Hill, Malbhat track, Talsanzor and other areas of Margao have been lost. We spend money to survey, we fight cases but it is the illegality which gets protected and gets a relief from Court,” says Celestin.
Celestin confirmed that the land at Pajifond belongs to Comunidade and is under encroachment. Even a temple in the vicinity falls under the Comunidade, he says.
The Comunidade has also confirmed a big house having come up at their land in Davorlim which has been recently ordered to be removed.
The Comunidade attorney also informed that they have surveyed the Monte Hill area and action will be similar to the one taken on the Pajifond encroachment.
