After the controversial Sec 39A was kept in abeyance in the St Andre constituency due to sustained local agitation, including a hunger strike by the local MLA, the government has now reportedly decided to withdraw the permission granted for zone conversion in Sanquelim amid growing public concern. This sequence of events underscores the simple truth that what is good for one constituency is invariably beneficial for the entire state. When communities come together to question legislation that threatens the public interest, the government is forced to take notice. Should citizens in every constituency rise in protest whenever a zone change under Section 39A threatens their local environment, heritage, or quality of life? There is a growing consensus that this provision should be scrapped entirely. In situations where legislation threatens the collective well-being, elected representatives must actively engage with the government and, if necessary, demand a special assembly session to review or repeal such provisions. Scrapping Section 39A, or at least subjecting it to a thorough review in a special assembly session, would signal that governance is truly responsive to the people it serves.
