Panaji, June 26: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has strongly opposed the BJP government’s proposal to classify 56 villages across Goa as urban areas, alleging that the move is a direct assault on Goa’s identity, culture, environment, and traditional village life.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, 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, demanded that the government immediately withdraw the proposal.

Palekar said Goa’s villages are not merely geographical units but represent the state’s unique heritage, cultural traditions, community life, and ecological balance. He warned that granting urban status to these villages would permanently alter their social fabric, threaten agricultural land, encourage indiscriminate construction, and weaken the traditional village ecosystem.

“The BJP Government has once again exposed its anti-Goan mindset. This is not a development policy but a blueprint for unchecked real-estate expansion. Instead of protecting Goa’s villages, the Government is turning them into commodities for builders and land sharks,” Palekar alleged.

He questioned the government’s urgency in pursuing the proposal without obtaining the informed consent of villagers, Gram Sabhas, and local panchayats.

“Urbanisation cannot be imposed from the Secretariat. It must reflect the aspirations of the people. The Government is attempting to bulldoze the sentiments of thousands of Goans without transparency or democratic consultation,” he said.

Palekar cautioned that the proposed reclassification would lead to excessive construction, place additional pressure on already inadequate infrastructure, worsen traffic congestion, increase demand for water and other essential services, and cause irreversible damage to Goa’s fragile environment. He alleged that the proposal appeared designed to benefit powerful real-estate interests at the expense of ordinary Goans.

He further claimed that the Bahujan Samaj and traditional village communities would be among the worst affected, as their livelihoods, land rights, and social identity are closely linked to Goa’s rural character.

The Congress demanded that the government immediately suspend the proposal and make public all reports, expert recommendations, and studies on which the decision is based. The party also called for comprehensive consultations with villagers, Gram Sabhas, panchayats, civil society organisations, environmental experts, and other stakeholders before taking any decision that could permanently alter the future of the affected villages.

Reaffirming its commitment to protecting Goa’s villages, environment, culture, and traditional way of life, the GPCC said it would continue to oppose the proposal through democratic means until the government withdraws what it termed an “anti-people” decision.