The picturesque villages of Uguem and Tudou, located in Sanguem Taluka, Goa, have long been known for their lush forests and natural beauty. However, between 2018 and 2021, these villages witnessed a massive environmental catastrophe: the illegal deforestaƟon of approximately 70,000 square meters of forest land. This deforestaƟon, which took place in survey numbers 54/0 of Uguem village and 21/0 of Tudou village, involved the felling of thousands of trees, some over a century old. The situation has left the villagers feeling betrayed by the very insƟtuƟons meant to protect their land and resources. The deforestaƟon was allegedly carried out by an unregistered society,
Sociadade Patriotica dos Baldious das Novas Conquistas, with the assistance of a fraudulent power of attorney holder. This group, in collaboration with certain government officers, unlawfully leased the land to a Bangalore-based company for a period of 33 years, reportedly for a significant sum of money. The leasing of this land not only violated environmental laws but also disregarded the rights and interests of the local communities who rely on these forests for their livelihoods and well-being. Despite the gravity of this situation, the response from the authors has been woefully inadequate. Villagers and concerned citizens have filed numerous complaints with the Sanguem Forest Department and the Conservator of Forests at the department’s head office in Panjim, seeking intervention and jusƟce. However, to date, no substantial action has been taken to address the illegal deforestaƟon or to hold those responsible accountable.
In a significant development, an FIR was lodged against the fraudulent society by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch in Panjim. Yet, even with this FIR, there has been little progress in bringing the culprits to jusƟce or in iniƟaƟng restoraƟve measures to miƟgate the environmental damage caused by the illegal deforestaƟon.
This inaction raises serious concerns about the effecƟveness of environmental governance in the region. The forests of Uguem and Tudou are more than just a natural resource; they are an integral part of the community’s heritage, supporting both biodiversity and the local economy.
The loss of these forests has far-reaching implicaƟons, including the disrupƟon of local ecosystems, loss of habitat for wildlife, and negative impacts on climate regulaƟon.
Moreover, the apparent complicity of government officials in this illegal activity points to a troubling erosion of trust in public institutions. While activists and villagers often rally against government projects that threaten the environment, the silence surrounding such blatant illegal activities by private entities suggests a dangerous double standard.
This selective enforcement of the law undermines the principles of jusƟce and accountability, eroding public confidence in the rule of law. The villagers of Uguem and Tudou, along with environmental activists, are now calling for urgent action.
They demand a comprehensive investigation into illegal deforestation, transparency in the legal proceedings, and the implementation of measures to restore the degraded land. Additionally, there is a pressing need for reforms in forest governance to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future and to ensure that those entrusted with the protecƟon of our natural resources are held to the highest standards of integrity and accountability.
The deforestaƟon crisis in Uguem and Tudou serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilant environmental stewardship. It is imperaƟve that the authorities act swiftly to address this injusƟce, restore the damaged ecosystems, and ensure that such violaƟons are not allowed to continue with impunity.
The time to protect Goa’s forests is now before more irreparable harm is done to the environment and the communities that depend on it.
