MARGAO: The Citizens for Democracy Goa group has called for the government to halt the NAKSHA property verification exercise in Cuncolim until formal guidelines and the legal foundation of the process are made public. The group expressed that the ongoing initiative has instilled anxiety among numerous residents.
Convener Elvis Gomes criticized a notice from the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records, which requires residents to validate land titles within 30 days for the ‘urban property card.’ He described the timeline as a “mathematical absurdity and a logistical nightmare,” noting that it aims to verify approximately 18,545 property holdings in Cuncolim from July 16 to August 14, 2026.
Gomes pointed out that many long-term residents do not have complete historical documentation for their properties. He cautioned that the push for immediate “proof of title” via executive powers, bypassing civil courts, could result in prolonged legal uncertainty for ancestral properties. He also stressed the challenges faced by residents living abroad or elsewhere in India who cannot meet the deadline.
He has reached out to the Chief Minister and requested intervention from PWD Minister Digambar Kamat, noting that similar problems could surface in Margao as well. “Land is a sensitive issue. When thousands of desperate citizens from Cuncolim and Margao are compelled to queue up before an inquiry officer, it may lead to chaos,” Gomes remarked.
