Panaji: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Spokesperson Adv. Amit Palekar, along with GPCC Spokesperson Samil Volvoikar, Saligao Block Congress President Atul Naik, St. Cruz Block Congress President John Nazareth, Porvorim Block Congress President Anil Pednekar, and Aldona Block Working President Sagar Salgaonkar, today strongly opposed the BJP Government’s move to classify 56 villages as urban areas, warning that the decision would irreversibly destroy Goa’s traditional village character and pave the way for reckless urbanisation driven by vested interests.
Addressing a press conference, Adv. Amit Palekar said that Goa’s villages are not merely geographical units but represent the State’s unique identity, heritage, culture, community life and ecological balance. He cautioned that forcing urban status upon these villages would permanently alter their social fabric, threaten agricultural lands, increase concrete development and undermine the centuries-old village ecosystem.
“The BJP Government has once again exposed its anti-Goan mindset. This is not a policy for development; it is a blueprint for uncontrolled real-estate expansion. Instead of protecting Goa’s villages, the Government is converting them into commodities for builders and land sharks,” Palekar said.
He questioned the undue haste with which the Government is pursuing the proposal without obtaining the informed consent of villagers, gram sabhas and local panchayats. “Urbanisation cannot be imposed from the Secretariat. It must emerge from the aspirations of the people. The BJP Government is attempting to bulldoze the sentiments of thousands of Goans without transparency or democratic consultation,” he added.
Palekar warned that the reclassification of villages would trigger indiscriminate construction, overburden already inadequate infrastructure, worsen traffic congestion, increase pressure on water and other essential services, and cause irreversible damage to Goa’s fragile environment. He further alleged that the move appears designed to benefit powerful real-estate lobbies while disregarding the interests of ordinary Goans.
“The biggest victims of this exercise will be the Bahujan Samaj and traditional village communities whose livelihoods, land rights and social identity are closely linked to Goa’s rural character. The BJP Government is sacrificing the interests of local people at the altar of commercial development,” he asserted.
The Congress Party demanded that the Government immediately suspend the proposal to classify the 56 villages as urban areas and make public all reports, expert recommendations and studies on which this decision is based. It further called for comprehensive public consultations with villagers, panchayats, civil society organisations, environmental experts and all stakeholders before taking any decision that will permanently alter the future of these villages.
The GPCC reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding Goa’s villages, environment, culture and traditional way of life. The party assured the people that it would strongly oppose every attempt to undermine Goa’s unique identity and would continue to raise the issue both on the streets and in every democratic forum until the Government withdraws its anti-people proposal.
