Goa's Arambol sees reclassification of 3 lakh sqm forest land as settlement, risks of landslide and water flagged

Two years after the Centre intervened to keep a controversial zoning plan in abeyance, tensions have resurfaced in Pernem taluka of north Goa, with residents of Arambol protesting the conversion of a forested hill into settlement land, The Times of India has reported.

An entire hill at Bhatwadi in Arambol, spread over nearly three lakh square metres and covered with dense private forest, has been reclassified as settlement zone. Locals fear the move could endanger nearly 1,000 residents across five wards living at the foothills, warning of a “Wayanad-like landslide” if large-scale construction follows.

Residents took to the streets on Sunday evening and said the protest will continue until the land-use change is reversed.


Local resident Rohit Satelkar said that despite assurances from the chief minister and the local MLA that the conversion would not be allowed, a notification was issued this month bringing it into effect.

“The land belonged to a local, who recently sold it to a non-Goan buyer, and we were on alert since then to ensure that the property is not converted to a settlement zone. We will protest until this issue is taken up in the upcoming assembly session,” told Prasad Shahapurkar, a resident of neighbouring Mandrem, from where people also joined the protest, to TOI.

Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar said the conversion raised serious doubts. “I already spoke to the TCP department and took a representation to the CM, and the CM assured me that the conversion will be reversed. If, in an entire village, every person is objecting to the conversion and I even took up the issue in the assembly, still, if this conversion takes place in such a large area of 3 lakh sqm, then there is something fishy. I will strongly object to this conversion,” TOI quoted Arolkar as saying.

Residents said the Bhatwadi forest is home to wildlife including foxes, bison and leopards, and also houses the village cremation ground, playground and a shrine, all of which now fall within the settlement zone.

“The entire hill, which runs for a length of 1.5km and makes up almost half of Arambol village, was converted into a settlement zone. The impact will be felt by the entire village. The project coming up will change our demography; imagine the number of plots and residential units, villas, that will come up in such a large area. There is no proper rubbish management for such development here,” Satelkar said.

Villagers said the forest cover ensures year-round water availability through wells and has so far protected the area from water shortages seen along the Arambol–Mandrem coast due to unplanned tourism. They fear borewells for new projects will dry up existing sources.

“There are horticultural fields all around, which will be affected. Our identity as a village will be destroyed if the hill is destroyed. This is a fight for our identity,” said resident Esperance D’Souza, according to The Times of India.

(With inputs from TOI)