“Save Goa, our land, our forests, our culture, the future for the next generation.” This public outcry of anguish boomed across the central hall of the Margao Cricket Club (MCC) late Thursday evening.

It was a protest against the state government and other self-serving stakeholders for conniving to alter the agriculturally rich topography of the state “illegally”.
Leading this “Enough is Enough” People’s Movement is 76-year-old Justice Ferdino Rebello, a former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, former judge of the Bombay High Court and former Member of the Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly.
Thursday evening’s event was attended by a jam packed audience of people from all walks of life, privileged and underprivileged, rich and poor, reflecting a deep-seated feeling of despair over uncontrolled land norm violations taking place for the past 28 years, and more rapaciously under the current BJP regime led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Justice (Retired) Ferdino defined the people’s movement as “a revolution to rectify the wrongs for the larger good of Goa.”
He said, “We do not want a concretised state. The voice of the people of Goa must be heard. Gram Sabhas and village panchayats must have a say on land use for urbanised development. We must stop the government from taking decisions behind closed doors. Water is our fundamental right.”
“Enough is Enough” — Goans have suffered enough, no more suffering! Either the government of the day cleans up its act, or must be removed.
Apart from the “Enough is Enough” slogan in English, there is another - “Ani Sonsu Nejo” (We can’t take anymore) in Konkani. This is setting the defiant tone at all gathering and is the gist of the message conveyed by Justice (Retired) Rebello and other eminent speakers like Roshni Rodrigues, Sanjiv Naik, Rajdeep Naik, Tahir Noronha, Usman Khan Pathan, Ravindra Velip, Goa Freedom Fighters Association president Ro-hidas ‘Dad’ Dessai and veteran freedom fighter Libia Lobo Sardesai, etc.
It was an awesome and overflowing public meeting in Margao, attended by about 800 people, and not the first. Similar meetings have been held at the Comunidade Hall in Mapusa on January 14 and at the Menezes Braganza Institute Hall in Panjim on January 6, and plans are afoot to hold many more.
At the heart of the “movement-cum-revolution” is a strong call for the immediate repeal of controversial Sections 17(a)), 17(2) and 39A of Goa’s Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, along with other related legislations that questionably permit change of zoning, land use and Floor Area Ratio (FAR).
Describing the hills and forests of Goa as the heritage of the people, Justice (Retired) Rebello demanded a complete halt to all real estate development and hill cutting. He called on the government to promulgate an ordinance or introduce a Bill to amend the law or relevant regulations to stop such illegal activities forthwith.
Re-emphasising that the movement is not politically motivated, he said, “This is not a movement of political parties. I have no aspiration to contest elections. We must restore morality among our youngsters and uphold integrity. The government must know that we are fighting for our values.”
He further reiterated that if others don’t speak, he would be raising his voice to inspire a coalition of activists and intelligent Goans to restore Goa as one of the best states in India.
“In my vocabulary, nothing is impossible. I am indebted to all of you for creating an awakening,” he said.
Pointing out that women constitute 50 percent of Goa’s population, Justice (Retired) Rebello appealed to them to express their views and assert their right to be heard. The whole hall erupted with thunderous claps and cheers.
The movement has announced a 10-point citizens' charter to protest against unregulated development and environmental degradation of Goa. It aims to protect Goa's natural resources, while ensuring transparent governance.
The 10 points are:
Immediate halt to hill cutting and land filling, protecting hills and forests as the people's heritage.
All development must adhere to the Regional Plan/Outline Development Plans (ODP) currently in force.
Repeal of controversial amendments to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, specifically Sections 17 (a), 17(2) and 39A, which allow for case-by-case zoning changes and increased floor area ratio (FAR) without adequate road width compliance.
Mandatory carrying capacity studies for any new development or mega projects.
Freeze permissions for multi-storied buildings and gated communities until residents are assured of adequate drinking water supply.
Sustainable development principles for all projects above a specified value (e.g., above Rs.5 crore), incorporating the "polluter pays principle" and "precautionary principle".
Review of fraudulent tenancy and orchard land declarations by retired judges, with calls for prosecution of those involved in fake applications.
Prohibition on development near natural assets, including rivers, lakes, forests, hills, and seashores, reinforcing the Public Trust Doctrine.
Removal of all offshore casinos from the Mandovi River in Panjim forthwith, and
Strict accountability and action against government officials and professionals (architects, engineers) found complicit in falsifying documents to aid illegal development.
Referring to the charter, Justice (Retired) Rebello said, “Our villages and villagers must be protected and the identity of Goa preserved. Goa is worth fighting for. Our ‘mankulem’ (tiny) Goa is worth fighting for.”
“What we want is a Gandhian-style Satyagraha Movement to make the ruling BJP realise that all development must take the people’s suffering into consideration, and Goans too must consider that Goa is now 50 percent non-Goan, and these settlers too have to be taken into confidence. A small state like Goa does not want to become mega polluted like Mumbai or Delhi,” he concluded.

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