Team Herald
MARGAO: Activists in Goa are voicing strong opposition to statements made by a senior IAS officer at a recent gram sabha meeting in Betalbatim. The officer's remarks, which underscored the limited powers of panchayats in addressing mega housing projects, have raised concerns among environmentalists and local residents. Many now fear that the government's strategy of sending bureaucrats to these meetings could be a tactic to stifle dissent, especially as resistance grows against large-scale developments seen as being forced upon villages.
At the heart of the debate is the claim that these mega projects are being approved against the will of the people. Diana Tavares, a prominent member of the NGO Rainbow Warriors, was particularly critical of the officer's statements, highlighting what she sees as a growing disconnect between local governance and the interests of the community. “Nothing better is expected from bureaucrats today, who are sadly reduced to blind slaves of their political masters, whose only aim is land speculation and short-term profits from anti-people construction projects,” she said.
Tavares emphasized that the Panchayat Raj Act, when read in conjunction with the Indian Constitution, grants panchayats the authority to decide what developments can take place in their areas. She pointed out that the law clearly prohibits panchayats from approving mega projects, as their role is confined to rural housing. “All permissions granted by panchayats for mega-housing and urban housing projects are illegal from the beginning,” she added.
The recent gram sabha meeting saw an admission from the Block Development Officer (BDO), Pallavi Mishra, IAS, that panchayats have limited powers in deciding on large housing projects. According to Mishra, unless an amendment is passed in the Goa Legislative Assembly to address these concerns, panchayats remain powerless to stop such developments. This acknowledgment has only fuelled activists' frustrations, as it appears to make a mockery of the Panchayati Raj Ministry’s mandate on decentralizing powers to local governance bodies under the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution.
Elvis Gomes, another vocal activist, echoed these sentiments, calling out the state's inability to empower local bodies. “Despite the legal framework meant to strengthen panchayats, they continue to be sidelined in critical decisions affecting their villages,” said Gomes.
During the meeting, Mishra repeatedly stressed that while she understood the concerns raised by the villagers, the panchayats were legally bound by the existing laws. “Unless the Goa Panchayat Raj Act is amended by the Legislature, the panchayat will have no powers to stop the big projects,” she stated, adding that policies on land use and housing are determined at the legislative level. Mishra acknowledged that panchayats could pass resolutions, but emphasized that such resolutions could only be enforced if they align with the legal provisions of the Act.
Villagers, however, were not satisfied. Many pointed out that Betalbatim has already exceeded its carrying capacity and argued that more mega housing projects would devastate the village’s resources. Yet, Mishra reiterated that the panchayat’s hands were tied unless legislative changes were made, leaving the residents to push their concerns further up the governmental ladder.
The situation in Betalbatim reflects a broader struggle in Goa, where local communities find themselves increasingly marginalized in decisions about development, despite constitutional protections intended to empower them.