PANJIM/MARGAO: A wave of resistance is sweeping across Goa after the State govern ment revived a controversial proposal to declare 56 vil lages as urban areas, trigger ing allegations that the move is designed to facilitate large scale real-estate development at the expense of village commu nities, farmlands and fragile eco systems. From Chimbel and Raia to Varca, Davorlim, Aquem and Cortalim, villag ers, panchayats, activists and Opposition parties have unit ed in opposition, warning that the proposal could perma nently alter Goa’s rural char acter while handing greater control over development to planning authorities. The backlash comes after the Directorate of Panchayats directed village panchayats to examine the government’s proposal and submit their views within 30 days. The move has revived memories of a similar urbanisation ex ercise in 2020 that was even tually withdrawn following widespread pub lic opposition. Chimbel resident Govind Shirodkar recalled how vil lagers had defeated a similar attempt six years ago. “Earlier also an attempt was made, but the vil lages united and opposed it. We made it clear that we do not want urban status. Our village is rich in bi odiversity. If villages are cate gorised as urban, land conver sion will increase and natural resources such as lakes will be destroyed,” he said, warn ing that resistance this time would be even stronger. His concerns were ech oed by fellow resident Reghana Kundaikar, who questioned the rationale behind urbanising villages. “Why do our villages need to be urbanised? Is the intention to turn them into cities? This will destroy our fields and hills.
Many villag ers depend on agriculture and cultivate vegetables for their livelihood,” she said. Critics argue that the proposal threatens not only Goa’s environment but also the democratic authority of gram sabhas and village panchayats. Social activist Prof Ra marao Wagh questioned the basis on which 56 vil lages were selected. “On what basis are these villages being declared ur ban?” he asked, alleging that the government ap peared to be relying on out dated Census data. Wagh warned that urban classifi cation could lead to higher taxes, increased Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and greater pressure on the environ ment. Former Se Old Goa sar panch Vishal Volvoikar de scribed the proposal as a direct threat to ecologically sensitive areas. “Development cannot come at the cost of our wetlands, mangroves, farm lands, biodiversity and vil lage identity. Goa’s natural heritage is not for sale,” he said. The Congress launched one of the sharpest attacks on the government, accus ing it of pursuing a devel opment model centred on builders rather than local communities.
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Goa Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Amit Palekar alleged that the proposal was “a blue print for uncontrolled re al-estate expansion.” “Instead of protecting Goa’s villages, the Govern ment is converting them into commodities for build ers and land sharks,” he said, accusing the BJP gov ernment of attempting to impose urbanisation with out transparency or demo cratic consultation. Palekar warned that re classifying villages as urban areas would encourage in discriminate construction, strain water supplies and infrastructure, worsen traf fic congestion and inflict irreversible environmental damage. “The BJP Government is sacrificing the interests of local people at the altar of commercial development,” he said, demanding imme diate withdrawal of the no tification. Similar concerns have emerged from villages across South Goa. Cortalim Congress leader Olencio Simoes described the proposal affecting Pale, Sancoale and Cortalim as “illegal, undemocratic and anti-people”, arguing that urbanisation without ad equate water, sewage and waste-management infra structure would only wors en existing problems. In Varca, the village panchayat unanimously passed a resolution op posing urban status and called for the proposal to be scrapped permanently.
The panchayat warned that urban classification would accelerate commer cialisation, threaten khaz an lands, sand dunes and traditional water bodies, weaken the role of the Gram Sabha and impose higher taxes and fees on residents. Social worker Warren Alemao said the notifica tion endangered the very essence of Goa’s villages. “Varca and Benaulim are not empty land waiting to be urbanised. They are the heart and soul of Goa’s heritage,” he said, warning of unchecked construction, loss of green cover and irre versible ecological damage. Opposition is also in tensifying in Davorlim and Aquem, where former sar panch Siddesh Bhagat al leged that the proposal was being presented as devel opment while serving the interests of powerful com mercial lobbies. “This is not real develop ment for local villagers, but a dangerous backdoor entry for mega projects, high-rise buildings, concrete jungles and outside commercial in terests,” Bhagat said. He argued that residents were seeking better civic amenities—not a change in planning status. “The people want better roads, drainage, drinking water and healthcare facil ities, not policies that ben efit builders,” he said.
Raia has emerged as an other flashpoint. Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco de scribed the notification as “draconian” and alleged that it would fuel large scale construction to satis fy “the unending hunger of the real-estate lobby.” Raia Sarpanch Mingue lina D’Souza said villagers remained firmly opposed. “The villagers of Raia, along with the village panchayat, do not want our village to be converted into an urban area,” she said, adding that a special Gram Sabha could be convened to formally reject the pro posal. The Goa Forward Party has also threatened agita tion if the government pro ceeds. Party president and Fa torda MLA Vijay Sardesai accused the government of ignoring pressing public concerns such as unem ployment, inflation, envi ronmental degradation and declining public services while reviving a proposal that had already been re jected once before. “The government is try ing to impose urbanisation without taking the people into confidence.
This pro posal should be withdrawn immediately. Otherwise, Goa Forward Party will go from village to village and organise a mass move ment against it,” Sardesai warned. He questioned whether the exercise was aimed at improving people’s lives or benefiting the construction industry. “There are no proper roads, parking facilities or adequate civic infrastruc ture even today. This exer cise appears to be aimed at benefiting builders rather than the people living in these villages,” he alleged. Facing mounting crit icism, Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserratte sought to defuse the con troversy, insisting that no final decision had been tak en and that the government would consider the views of the affected panchayats before proceeding. But with panchayats already passing resolu tions against the proposal and opposition spreading across districts, the govern ment’s urbanisation plan is rapidly turning into a state wide political flashpoint.
