In a major announcement, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant declared on Tuesday that all land losers of the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda will finally receive ownership rights to the land they were relocated to.
The announcement was made while the Chief Minister spoke to reporters during the international football match between India and Singapore at the Fatorda stadium. Sawant acknowledged the grievances of the affected families, saying it was time justice was delivered to them.
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“Several people from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community had sacrificed their land for the construction of this iconic stadium. Although they were relocated, they have still not received ownership rights over the land allotted to them. Under the recently implemented ‘Mhaje Ghar’ scheme, they will now get those ownership rights,” the Chief Minister assured.
He also directed the concerned departments to expedite the process, issue allotment orders, and complete formalities at the earliest.
“I have instructed that the necessary documents be prepared and the process of giving ownership rights begin immediately,” Sawant added.
Earlier, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai had expressed disappointment over the prolonged delay in granting ownership titles. Speaking to reporters, Sardesai highlighted the sacrifices made by the ST community, who had willingly given up their land for the stadium’s construction.
“It was because of their cooperation and goodwill that this stadium could be completed in just six months. Today, the Nehru Stadium is not only one of Goa’s proudest landmarks but is also recognised internationally. The people who made it possible are the true sons of the soil and deserve their rightful ownership,” he said.
Sardesai also noted that the affected families had been waiting for decades despite repeated assurances from successive governments. He thanked the Chief Minister for addressing the matter seriously and hoped the promise would be fulfilled without further bureaucratic delays.
The announcement has been widely welcomed by the local community and marks a significant step towards acknowledging the contributions of the original Goans whose sacrifices helped shape one of the State’s most iconic sporting venues.
