Date: 22nd October, 2024
In Goa, the idea of Bhoomi refers to land as something sacred, tied to nature and agriculture, while Property is seen as land used for buying, selling, or building on. This difference is becoming more important as Goa faces pressures from real estate development, especially in areas that are rich in forests and biodiversity. For many Goans, land is not just a commodity but part of their cultural and spiritual heritage, especially in places like the Western Ghats, which are known for their ecological importance.
Recently, the Goa government’s committee suggested dropping 21 villages from the list of ecologically sensitive areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats to allow for development. Initially, 108 villages were proposed as ESA, but now only 87 villages remain in the final list. This decision has risen concerns about how much of Goa’s natural landscape will be protected, as these villages are home to forests and wildlife that need safeguarding.
Several environmental committees like the S M Sawant Committee, Expert Karapurkar Committee, Reports from Thomas and Araujo Committee and Deepshika Sharma Reports on Private Forests, and currently Review committee headed by CF/CCF on Private Forests have shown how many forest lands in Goa have been de-notified (removed from protection) and converted for other uses time to time. This has led to forest areas being cleared for housing projects and commercial development citing not qualified under private forest on white papers, which threatens Goa’s natural balance and future.
The shift from seeing land as Bhoomi to treating it as Property has led to more forests being cleared for real estate and other commercial uses. While development is necessary, it is important to find a balance that respects Goa’s environment and cultural heritage. Protecting land for future generations while allowing for responsible growth is the need of the hour.
In a bold challenge, Goa’s Chief Minister recently urged the media to investigate the controversial land conversion in Sancoale. However, documents uncovered by O Heraldo reveal that the conversion from agricultural land and private forest to commercial use occurred under his own government. This raised serious questions about the protection of Bhoomi, sacred land that Gaunkars and locals communities hold dear.
The land, once classified as agricultural and later as a private forest, is considered sacred by residents, believed to be home to the revered deity Sankhlyo. In 2007, it was reclassified to an S2 Zone allowing limited construction. Yet, in November 2023, the government approved its conversion to C-1 Commercial Zone, permitting extensive development. This transformation, facilitated by Parmesh Constructions (Bhutani Infra), was expedited despite objections from local stakeholders.
Local activists and protectors of Bhoomi, like Peter D’Souza and Narayan Naik, have been pivotal in exposing the government’s actions. D’Souza stated, “The Chief Minister wants an investigation, but the evidence points back to his government favouring developers.” Naik emphasized the sacred nature of the land, asserting, “This was an agricultural land, a forest land where our revered local deity Sankhlyo roamed for years. People have seen him as well. The BJP has no regard for gods and local deities.”
As Premanand Naik Ex Sarpanch of Sancoale enters the second day of his indefinite hunger strike over the Bhutani issue, I humbly appeal to him through this article—please awaken the sleeping spirit of the Sancoale Communidade. This sacred Bhoomi originally belongs to the Communidade, and it is being reduced to a mere property battle over licenses and permissions. We are the protectors of this Bhoomi, and our duty is not to challenge it as property, but to safeguard it as our sacred land.
In Goa, the Sacred Bhoomi—once cherished and protected by our ancestors and the revered Rakhandar Sakhalyo—is now being shamelessly reduced to a mere commodity for personal greed. What once belonged to the Sancoale Communidade is being sold off like any other piece of land, with no respect for its spiritual significance. This isn’t just about licenses, permissions, or some white paper; it’s about the very soul of our land being traded, with blatant disregard for the deep, divine bond we have with it. Just as the Portuguese Inquisition sought to erase our identity, today’s government is waging its own assault through failed and corrupt schemes like 17B and 39A of the TCP Act, Expert Committee Reports to de-notify our forests, ‘Smarak Temple’ Scheme by the Archaeology Department, and the unconstitutional amendments to the Code of Communidade.