Goa, July 5 -- Amid growing concerns over a spate of fresh development proposals, residents of Loliem and Poinguinim on Friday strongly condemned what they described as 'blatantly illegal and desperate attempts' by their respective comunidades to sell off large tracts of plateau land to private and commercial interests.

While addressing the media in Margao, the villagers warned that such moves threaten to destroy ecologically fragile landscapes that their survival depends on, and vowed to escalate their resistance if needed.

Alleging that both comunidades were pushing multiple land allotment proposals in "unholy haste," the villagers said the latest applications are being processed in complete defiance of gram sabha resolutions adopted ...