The High Court of Bombay at Goa has come to the rescue yet again, and their good work for the welfare of Goa appears to be going on unabated with illegal after illegal structure biting the dust amidst a few hypocritical tears.
After the 22 illegal structures on the land of the Comunidade of Sangolda were razed, the focus is now on Arambol village panchayat, and there, too, mortar is set to crumble in time.
When the illegal structures were being razed in Sangolda, the testimonies of victims were a clear indication that the problem was not with the Comunidade – though that does not absolve the functioning of many Comunidades – but with the politicians.
The role of politicians came into focus because, for once, those whose structures were being razed, did not hold back in the naming and blaming game.
The role of politicians came into focus because, for once, those whose structures were being razed, did not hold back in the naming and blaming game.
And, time and again, names of politicians pop out. Not of big politicians, but politicians at the panchayat level, thus exposing the stench that surrounds grassroots politics in Goa.
People were promised that houses would be regularised even when the case had reached the Supreme Court.
Such is the level of political integrity, and the level that people dealing with politicians can stoop to. Even before the Supreme Court could reach a judgment, some added glitz to their houses in the belief that the courts would right something grossly wrong.
Countries the world over provide housing to the homeless. There are many Goans in the UK availing such aid. But, it does not mean that the government forcibly takes private land for public utility without cost.
The problem in Goa is that the government and politicians try to give freebies at the cost of others, and with no cost to themselves, and that is how the getter gets the boot when the courts intervene.
People were promised that houses would be regularised even when the case had reached the Supreme Court.
It pained to see the plight of those whose illegal structures were demolished at Sangolda, but the pain was numbed by the fact that what is wrong is wrong, and that if the political system has failed, our courts have not.
Sangolda is one case study, where Comunidade land has been misused. If outsiders were victims in Sangolda, there are cases in Goa where well-to-do people try to usurp land belonging to the Comunidade. And, when they are caught, they offer to return it out of shame and not because they have erred.
There was a time when people hesitated to be part of panchayats; there was a time when people needed to be coaxed to stand for panchayat elections. That trend changed long ago.
Similar was the case with elections to managing committees of Comunidades. People used to remain in authority because nobody else wanted to be part of such committees.
Sangolda is one case study, where Comunidade land has been misused. If outsiders were victims in Sangolda, there are cases in Goa where well-to-do people try to usurp land belonging to the Comunidade.
Today, there are presidents or attorneys or treasurers who do not want to give away their chairs because they have realised the value of the position they hold. It is not value for integrity, but for ill-gotten money such as the one which led to the farce witnessed in Sangolda last week.
The 20 illegal structures in Sangolda would not have seen the light of day had the panchayat members been mute spectators to the charade. It is clear that somebody from the Comunidade was involved, too, and that showed the indifference within.
It took 12 years to demolish the structures because the people who claim they are poor, had the money to go and appeal to the Supreme Court, thereby indicating another dark hand.
As long as our judiciary remains rooted, there will be many more Sangoldas in Goa, and, hopefully soon, there will be a cleansing amongst the people. Or, the demon of demolition will light the dance on the coastal belt.