MAPUSA
A recent order by the High Court of Bombay at Goa, directing stringent action against illegal structures on government, comunidade, tenanted land, as well as those lining roadsides and paddy fields, has sent ripples across the State – shaking not only those who built without permits but also the political machinery that enabled them.
While the State government and local leaders have vocally targeted illegal structures obstructing road widening projects, their silence on large-scale slum settlements – many thriving for decades on comunidade land – has been deafening.
These settlements, often politically shielded, have mushroomed in various parts of the State, particularly in Bardez taluka, transforming its landscape and raising uncomfortable questions about the nexus between politics and encroachment.
Slums: A vote bank strategy
Over the years, Bardez has become a hotbed for slum development, driven largely by political patronage.
As slums evolved into crucial vote banks, local politicians allegedly collaborated with history-sheeters and slum lords to fortify these settlements and ensure their expansion.
Today, all seven constituencies in Bardez bear the imprint of this unchecked growth, with unauthorised structures dotting government and Comunidade lands, their existence seemingly protected by political silence.
In Mapusa, considered ground zero for this issue, neighbourhoods like Khadpavaddo, Xavier Vaddo, Dangi Colony, Baman Vaddo, Acoi, Peddem, Faira-Alta, Laxmi Nagar and Ghateshwar Nagar are widely recognised for their dense slum clusters.
Many of these homes have been assigned unauthorised house numbers – identified by the prefix 'IL' – by the Mapusa Municipal Council, a move basically to prevent revenue losses rather than enforce legality.
Lala ki Basti: A political time bomb
In Tivim constituency, “Lala ki Basti” remains a symbol of defiance and political shielding.
With over 100 unauthorised homes reportedly constructed on comunidade land, the colony has been embroiled in controversy for years.
While the High Court recently directed the demolition of 25 of these structures, the operation was halted at the eleventh hour – allegedly due to political pressure and the proximity of a religious festival observed by the colony’s minority community.
However, sources indicate that the demolition is likely to proceed this month, as the government faces increased scrutiny in the wake of the court's intervention.
Cunchelim scam: Victims and silence
A more recent episode unfolded in Cunchelim, where nearly 40 homes were razed.
The land, originally acquired for a burial ground, was illegally sold by fraudsters to unsuspecting migrant families who built homes there.
Victims have since approached the police, demanding action against the land scam.
Yet, in a telling sign of the prevailing culture of impunity, neither political leaders nor government agencies have taken a stand on the scam – underscoring the widespread perception that such illegalities are sustained by high-level protection.
Sangolda and Calangute: Patterns repeat
Sangolda saw a similar story last year, where several unauthorised homes built on Comunidade land were finally demolished after the local Comunidade committee sought legal recourse.
The longevity of these structures again points to the implicit political and administrative support they likely enjoyed.
Meanwhile, coastal Calangute continues to struggle with illegal settlements in areas such as Khobrawaddo and Agarvaddo, with Orda in Candolim also joining the list.
Law enforcement officials have flagged these slums as breeding grounds for beggary and other anti-social behaviour, raising alarms about public safety and urban governance.
A legacy of silence
What links these scattered tales is a common thread: political complicity. From Mapusa to Calangute, from Tivim to Sangolda, politicians across party lines have seemingly turned a blind eye to illegal constructions – sometimes even nurturing them in exchange for electoral support.
As the High Court continues to tighten the screws on illegality, it remains to be seen whether the State will finally act decisively – or if political convenience will once again overshadow the rule of law.
