Team Herald
MARGAO: The Comunidade of Aquem has expressed strong opposition to the government’s renewed initiative to rehabilitate slum dwellers at Moti Dongor, labelling it a “seasonal exercise” ahead of civic elections. They emphasised that the issue remains sub-judice, with legal proceedings ongoing in the High Court.
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The government’s current plan involves the rehabilitation of approximately 325 structures at Moti Dongor, a proposal that initially received in-principle approval in 2006 but was stalled due to administrative hurdles, including the failure to allocate necessary funds.
Moreover, the government has established a six-member committee chaired by the Director of Municipal Administration. This committee comprises officials from various departments, including the Deputy Collector of Salcete, the Inspector of Survey and Land Records (ISLR) of Salcete, the Municipal Engineer of Margao Municipal Council (MMC), and the Senior Project Engineer of the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) will serve as the member secretary. The committee’s mandate includes determining land acquisition requirements and exploring rehabilitation options through public-private partnerships or government schemes.
Despite these developments, Aquem Comunidade Attorney Celestino Noronha has voiced strong objections. He stressed that the legality of these structures is still under judicial review in the High Court. He noted that demolition orders obtained by the Comunidade in 2014 were stayed, and the matter has been pending for a decade. Noronha also highlighted a legal flaw in the rehabilitation plan, stating that the Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1956, was never extended to Goa, rendering any notifications under this law invalid. He added that the shareholders of the Aquem Comunidade have clearly instructed him to reclaim their land at Moti Dongor.
It may be recalled that a meeting chaired by the Revenue Secretary was held in the past to discuss this issue, during which sources stated that Margao MLA Digambar Kamat had highlighted that the total slum area of 23,800 square meters at Moti Dongor had been notified under the Slum Act and asserted that the entire area should be demarcated, regardless of ownership.
Kamat had urged all relevant departments to coordinate efforts and had given a deadline for a joint site inspection to be completed.
At that meeting, ISLR revealed that of the 23,800 square meters identified for rehabilitation, 13,000 square meters belong to the Comunidade, while 10,800 square meters are privately owned. The government has allocated Rs 5 crore in the 2023-24 budget for land acquisition, with directives to ensure adequate budgetary provisions for future needs.
The government’s renewed focus on this rehabilitation plan has reignited debates, especially given the ongoing legal challenges and the comunidade’s firm stance on reclaiming their land. The original proposal dates back to August 2011, when Kamat was the then Chief Minister and had sought to revive the plan. Although it received initial approval, the project did not progress due to administrative and financial constraints.
