Concerns over land governance, planning decisions and the future of Goa’s traditional institu tions were raised at a pub lic awareness meeting held in Cavelossim on Sunday evening as part of a contin uing village-level outreach campaign across the State. The meeting, organised by Goyche Fuddle Pillge Khatir (GFPK) at the St Cruz Club Hall, was described by speakers as the 11th stop in a series of village inter actions being conducted to discuss land rights, commu nity institutions and devel opment-related concerns in Goa.
Earlier meetings have been held in areas including Fatorda, Curla Morod, Com ba, Baga, Navelim, Tilamol, Telaulim, Varca and Maina, while a recent meeting was also held in Curtorim. Or ganisers said the initiative aims to take discussions on land governance and com munity rights directly to villages across the State. Researcher Hector Fer nandes addressed the gath ering and spoke about the historical role of the Comu nidade system, referring to the Carta de Foral recorded in 1526. Fernandes described the Comunidade as a long-standing institution linked to the management of village lands and com mon resources. He said the system historically safe guarded community assets such as orchards, grazing grounds and salt pans. He cautioned that weak ening such institutions could have serious implica tions for the future control of village lands, stating that if Comunidades were al lowed to erode, a significant portion of protected village land could eventually pass into government ownership. Fernandes said estimates suggest that nearly 70 per cent of protected village lands could effectively de fault to government control if the Comunidade system were undermined, a situa tion he said would remove an important layer of com munity oversight over these lands.
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Former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes, who is a part of the ‘Enough is Enough’ move ment led by Justice Ferdino Rebello, also addressed the gathering and raised con cerns over land conversions and planning decisions in the State. Referring to provisions such as Sections 17(2) and 39A under the Town and Country Planning (TCP) framework, Gomes said there had been growing public concern about the manner in which certain land-use changes were be ing approved. He alleged that in some cases planning decisions overlooked Survey of In dia contour data in favour of development proposals submitted by architects, and called for greater scru tiny of such approvals. Gomes also referred to earlier public mobilisation in Goa that led to casinos be ing moved out of the River Sal, warning that environ mental concerns had since resurfaced in other areas, including the Mandovi. He emphasised that vil lage panchayats have stat utory powers to examine development proposals and can reject permissions when projects do not reflect ground realities. He also referred to constitutional provisions under the 73rd Amendment that empower local self-government insti tutions. The meeting also saw dis cussions linking land and governance concerns with wider social changes taking place in the State. Speakers referred to the death of a woman in Man drem earlier this year, which had triggered protests in the area. The incident was cited during the discussion as an example of wider anxieties being expressed in different parts of Goa about changing ground realities and their impact on local communities. References were also made to incidents involving prominent Goan families such as the Dempos and the Ghanekars, which speak ers said had contributed to public concern about issues relating to land, security and demographic changes. GFPK president Jack Mascarenhas, addressing those present, spoke about what he described as a cit izen-driven initiative aimed at encouraging greater civic participation in addressing issues affecting Goa. Mascarenhas referred to what he called a “3.5 per cent rule”, explaining that social change can often be triggered by a relatively small but committed group of citizens who mobilise others through sustained engagement at the grass roots level.
He said the initiative seeks to build such networks of citizens in villages across Goa to raise awareness on issues such as land govern ance, environmental protec tion and planning decisions. Calling for unity among Goans across communities, he also emphasised the importance of collective action in safeguarding the State’s land and resources. The meeting was mod erated by Natividade Fer nandes. Local resident Polly Lobo also addressed the gath ering and urged people to remain actively engaged in discussions concerning the future of Goa and the pro tection of its land and com munity resources. Organisers said the vil lage outreach programme will continue with further meetings planned in other parts of Goa, with the next interaction scheduled to be held in Raia on March 19.
