Spokespersons: Shri Manikrao Thakre, Shri Amit Patkar and Shri Viriato Fernandes: They said that it was very important to protect the land, the culture and traditions of the coastal state. Underlining the urgent need for protecting the environment and ecosystem of Goa from multiple threats, the Congress today sought support for a Bill presented in the Lok Sabha by one of its MPs seeking special status for the state, ensuring its sustainable development, besides protecting and safeguarding the distinct identity of Goa.

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Party MP from South Goa, Shri Viriato Fernandes, on December 5, 2025. The Bill proposes the creation of a ‘Goa Sustainable Development Council’, to be headed by the Chief Minister. Fernandes said that its aim is to protect Goa’s culture, land, environment, traditional communities, cultural identity, heritage, language, art forms, and traditional way of life.

The Bill also seeks to address the demographic changes and prevent Goans from becoming a minority in their own state by planning policies that protect the socio-cultural balance.

It also calls for promoting Konkani in both Devanagari and Roman scripts. The Bill further proposes defining the “Persons of Goan Origin”, based on Civil Code of 1867 and other criteria.

The Congress leaders said the Bill was necessary because of Goa’s small size and fragile environment which are under pressure from rapid and unplanned development, demographic changes, destruction of heritage sites, and threats to traditional Goan communities. Saturday February 7, 2026