Panaji (Goa) Goa government has decided to revive the defunct Comunidades, the Portuguese-era bodies which are custodian of the lands in the State’s rural areas, as many of them are without proper representatives.

State Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte told reporters on Tuesday that the government is considering the recommendations of Comunidade Commission which was formed as a part of High Court directives.

“Currently we are studying the  report of comunidade commission which has been submitted to the revenue department. It will be taken up with the Chief Minister,” Khaunte said.

Stating that  several Comunidades are without elected representatives on them, the minister said that out of total 90 bodies in South Goa, 48 are functional.

 “We have asked such bodies to either appoint representatives or government will put (appoint) one,” the minister said adding that State government intends to provide all the required infrastructure for comunidades.

State government has already appointed three administrators who have been communicating with the defunct bodies to hold the elections and appoint the representatives, but there is no revert from them (comunidades), he said.

“These defunct comunidade do not have updated list of shareholders and other documents,” he said adding that the State government has started the process to put in place all the Comunidades, which will make them more transparent.

The Comunidades of Goa were a form of land association developed in Goa, where land-ownership was collectively held, but controlled by the male descendants of those who claimed to be the founders of the village.

Documented by the Portuguese as of 1526, it was the predominant form of landholding in Goa prior to 1961, when the state was liberated from the colonial power.