Victim families face displacement, financial ruin
MAPUSA
A series of demolitions of allegedly illegal structures built on government-acquired comunidade land in Cunchelim has cast a spotlight on a disturbing trend in Goa, where low-income families have been duped into buying land by influential individuals, allegedly including local politicians, councillors and comunidade officials.
Affected families in Cunchelim, who had invested their life savings in hopes of securing a permanent home, are now facing displacement and financial ruin. Reports suggest that these individuals were allegedly persuaded by well-connected local figures who assured them that their houses would eventually be regularised.
This incident in Cunchelim is only the latest in a string of similar demolitions across the State.
In Arambol, a similar situation unfolded two months ago when authorities demolished 15 illegal structures violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.
These structures included properties reportedly owned by a former sarpanch and his family.
This case, which gained traction in the High Court, underscores how influential community members have been able to erect unauthorized buildings with seeming impunity.
Six months earlier in Sangolda, authorities demolished 22 houses also built on comunidade land.
In this case, panchayat members allegedly convinced the owners to construct homes with the promise of eventual legalisation.
Some of these houses were even connected to utilities, a move that local politicians are alleged to have facilitated, further cementing these families as potential “vote banks.”
In another instance less than a month ago, Mapusa Municipal Council dismantled around 35 unauthorised structures in Karaswadda, some of which had been operational for over 25 years.
A councillor reportedly owned eight of these structures, highlighting the entrenched connections that allowed such unauthorised establishments to operate unchecked.
Similarly, illegal constructions were recently demolished in Calangute under the jurisdiction of the local panchayat, pointing to the breadth of the issue across multiple localities.
For those affected, the consequences are severe. The families say they have not only lost their investments but are also facing intimidation.
Reports from Cunchelim indicate that the duped homeowners were allegedly warned against filing complaints and threatened with consequences if they spoke out.
In a bid to quell the backlash, they have been offered potential relocation – an uncertain prospect.
With politicians allegedly profiting from vulnerable, low-income residents by promising them security that is later rescinded, these events reveal a deeply rooted problem within the State’s political and governance systems.
As such incidents become more frequent, there is increasing pressure on the government to address the systemic manipulation, ensuring that those who are truly responsible are held accountable.
