Usgao Villagers Rally for Land Acquisition to Address Local Housing Crisis
In a significant development, villagers from Usgao in Ponda have issued a strong demand to their local panchayat, urging the acquisition and earmarking of at least five lakh square meters of comunidade land located in the Mharvasaddo area. This land is specifically intended for housing purposes to benefit local residents, addressing long-standing concerns over inadequate living conditions.
Gram Sabha Witnesses Opposition to Outsider Land Sales
The recent Sunday gram sabha of the Usgao-Ganjem village panchayat became a platform for vocal opposition from locals against the proposed sale of comunidade land to outsiders. Residents expressed deep-seated fears that such sales could lead to an influx of non-natives, potentially outnumbering the village's original inhabitants and altering the community's demographic fabric.
Rohan Naik, a resident of Usgao, highlighted the pressing issue of overcrowded housing, stating that many locals currently reside in congested homes. He proposed a practical solution: the panchayat should acquire the five lakh sqm land at Mharvasaddo, subdivide it into plots of 300 square meters each, and sell these plots exclusively to villagers. This initiative would empower locals to construct their own homes, thereby alleviating the housing shortage.
Additional Concerns Over Proposed House Tax Hike
Beyond the land acquisition demand, villagers also raised objections to a proposed increase in house tax. They requested that the panchayat minimize this hike to avoid placing additional financial burdens on residents already grappling with housing challenges.
In response to these concerns, Sarpanch Sanjay Gaude assured the community that the panchayat would take formal action by writing to the government. This step aims to address both the land acquisition request and the tax-related issues, reflecting the panchayat's commitment to engaging with higher authorities on behalf of the villagers.
The collective stance of Usgao residents underscores a broader struggle for affordable housing and community preservation in rural Goa, as they seek to balance development with the protection of local interests against external pressures.
