Goa’s khazan lands and land filling – Beginning of the end?

Goa being the smallest State of the Union with limited land at its disposal, every visitor to the State has his eyes focussed on possessing a piece of land with a dwelling unit.

The khazan lands played a vital role in the lives of every Goan for centuries. The land was mainly put to agricultural use, it being the primary occupation besides fish farming.

With the breaches in bunds, both natural and induced, most of the khazan lands continue to remain perennially inundated.  Our ancestors slogged all through their lives to protect the khazan lands for their livelihood with the respective Comunidades playing a vital role as any breach in bund was attended to, in the shortest time possible. The upkeep of the bunds was entrusted to the designated village committees who remained vigilant and committed to their assigned responsibilities.  The maintenance was given on auction.  There are instances where khazan lands were reclaimed and embankment put in place to keep soil erosion in control.  The Divar Island is a fitting example.

With the forest cover diminishing by the day, pressure mounts on the khazan lands for construction activities as the demand is not able to cope up with the supply.  This compels the land owners to take up forceful land filling keeping in mind that one day their land will reap a fortune. 

Everyone aims to purchase fields which have remained inundated with saline water and thick growth of mangroves and thus rendered fallow.  This leads to temptation to fill the prime fertile land with construction debris, garbage, etc.  With the authorities concerned turning a blind eye, the land encroachers and few vested elements are having a field day.

The Island of Divar will also not lag behind. The khazan land surrounding the mainlands along the tributaries of the Mandovi River will in the near future be mushroomed with tiny hamlets bringing the farming activities of the yore to a grinding halt.

It is high time the authorities concerned carry out periodical survey and take suo-moto  cognisance on the rampant land filling taking place at a fast pace.  Many a time, vehicles dump debris in open lands under the cover of darkness.  Vehicles involved in transporting the material should be intercepted, booked and heavy fine imposed.  

The land owner should also be penalised for his connivance with this illegal activity in the absence of any complaint on his part and the land restored to its original at his cost.  Only such deterrent measures when introduced and enforced will keep the required checks in balance.