Protests Spiral, As Amendment To Planning Law Accelerates Goa’s Urban Sprawl & Devastates Its Lush Commons

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Protests Spiral, As Amendment To Planning Law Accelerates Goa’s Urban Sprawl & Devastates Its Lush Commons

In 2024, more than 20 times more land in Goa was converted from farm, forest, orchard and protected area to concrete urban sprawl than in the previous 37 years, thanks to a quiet tweak the state government made to a planning law. From once-lush Sancoale, where angry, distressed locals are fighting builders clearing trees and fields without clear permission and in apparent collusion with local authorities, we report on the battle to save environm…