The quaint village of Cunchelim found itself at the centre of emotion as 31 houses, built illegally on comunidade land, were reduced to rubble by bulldozers and the demolition squad on Tuesday. Heart-wrenching scenes of families emerged as they watched their homes and the monies they invested, reduced to dust.
While the demolition filled the air with poignant unease, it also stood as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding land fraud, development, and the long arm of law. The tears of those left homeless undoubtedly tug at our heartstrings, while the message goes out that illegal constructions will always stand on unstable ground.
At the heart of this issue lies the sanctity of comunidade land and a complete collapse of systems. The inherent failure of the comunidades to protect their land against encroachers or fraudsters is as clear as daylight. The tragedy in Cunchelim is just one of those bitter episodes in a larger narrative where greed and desperation collide with the proprietary of land. And Cunchelim is not alone here. Earlier in April, 22 structures on Comunidade land in Sangolda were brought down following a High Court order. There was a sea of emotion here too, with people pleading to spare their houses and one man even attempting to self-immolate. Statistics reveal that over 35 lakh sqm of comunidade land has been lost to encroachers, with Sirigao topping the list with 20 lakh sqmts.
The cries of the affected families are real, as genuine as the lives they spent under their roofs. They indeed have valid water and electricity connections, and possibly ration cards too. However, these factors are not enough to claim ownership. The question, then, is, who is responsible? The people? The comunidade? Authorities? Or those involved in these deals? It could be true that residents fell to the lure of a piece of land upon which they built their dreams, brick by brick. But foundations cannot be built on uncertainties. The argument that people were deceived does not hold entirely.
Advocate General Devidas Pangam submitted that the government will not proceed with criminal charges against the victims while warning of civil and criminal action against office bearers of the comunidade involved in illegal land allotments. If the government is to set deterrents against land fraudsters, it’s time to go to the root of the issue and book those in the Comunidades brokering such deals along with authorities who overlooked the lacunas. Because it is their inaction that has emboldened many to believe they could skirt legal land use regulations without consequence.
The emotional scars inflicted on the families may remain for long, but while that happens, the government must tighten laws to protect comunidade land so that people don’t fall into such traps. There has to be a sense of awareness of land rights and ownership, and above all, every effort must be made to protect comunidade land from encroachment.
As we reflect on the life stories behind the rubble in Cunchelim and acknowledge the pain of those left homeless, we can’t overlook the crucial message it conveys that illegal constructions will never find lasting security. It is time to stand up for the rightful use of land and ensure a future where homes are built with integrity, respecting both people and institutions.
