LOSING GROUND

Who's Really Buying Goa?

- Gauri Ghadge

In a quiet village on the fringes of North Goa, an old balcao overlooks a newly tarred road.

Beyond it, a high compound wall rises; modern, sleek, and unmistakably out of place. Behind that wall is one of dozens of luxury villas built in the past year. The owner? Not a local, not even a frequent visitor, just another investor, part of a growing wave of outsiders reshaping Goa's landscape, one parcel at a time.

The question that's echoing through paddy fields and coastal corridors is no longer who owns Goa? But who is losing it? In the rush of real estate activity flooding the state, a deep unease is surfacing: has Goa become a playground for external profiteers, while locals are priced out of their own land? The land, once known for paddy fields and coconut palms, is being reimagined into premium villas, private retreats, and luxury enclaves. This isn't merely development-it's transformation. And at its centre is a quiet but pressing concern: as outsiders pour in, where do Goans fit into this new map?

PARADISE FOR SALE

For generations, land in Goa was more than just a financial asset; it was identity, inheritance, and community. Yet, in the past five years, particularly post-2020, Goa has experienced a staggering rise in land transactions, much of it driven by non-Goans, high-net-worth individuals, shell corporations, and non-resident Indians (NRIs). A closer look reveals that the phenomenon isn't limited to coastal hotspots; it is unfolding in inland villages, agricultural belts, and heritage zones once considered untouchable.

The pandemic served as an unlikely catalyst. With urban India locked indoors, the idea of a slower, greener life took root. Goa, with its natural beauty, decent connectivity, and relaxed lifestyle, suddenly became the dream.