PANAJI: The ongoing Karapur-Sarvan agitation against the proposed Lodha mega housing project took a new turn on Friday after protesters shifted their demonstration from the Directorate of Panchayats to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) office in Panaji, catching police deployment off guard.
The protest, led by St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar, was moved at the last minute, bypassing security arrangements at the earlier venue. Protesters continued their sit-in outside the TCP office, demanding a stop-work order on the project and alleging large-scale environmental violations.
The Environment Director and GCZMA Member Secretary, Sachin Desai, has sought one week to examine the complaints before taking further action.
Opposition leaders and activists later joined in the protest. Activist Abhijit Prabhudesai said the delegation first met the Environment Department, urging immediate action. “We clearly told the Director that the project needs environmental clearance and should not be allowed to proceed. We placed all the evidence and asked for a stop-work order immediately,” he said. He added that officials acknowledged complaints but did not halt construction. “Despite everything, no stop-work order has been issued. They said SEIAA will meet on Monday.”
Prabhudesai also alleged discrepancies in project documentation, claiming the land parcel exceeds regulatory thresholds. “The project area is over 50 hectares, and the developer himself claims 132 acres. Yet approvals are being processed,” he said.
Protesters raised multiple concerns, including alleged hill cutting, absence of approach roads, and construction without proper NOCs. According to Prabhudesai, “No approach road exists, yet permissions were granted. Landowners have objected to their land being used.”
He further alleged misuse of the “affordable housing” classification. “They reduced mandatory plot sizes from 300 sq m to 100 sq m under special relaxation, even without a formal application,” he said. He also claimed disparity in FAR permissions, stating: “Ordinary people get 60 FAR, but this project has been given 200 FAR. This is outside the law.”
MLA Borkar criticised the pace of enforcement action, alleging regulatory inaction despite ongoing destruction. “When we ask, the Environment Director only says a meeting has been held, and a decision will be conveyed,” he said. “There has still been no site inspection.” He alleged ongoing ecological damage in the area. “Entire hills are being cut, trees are being felled, and even wildlife has been affected,” he said.
Social activist Swapnesh Sherlekar said the project reflects deeper governance concerns. “This is like Delhi builders conquering Goa,” he said. “The system is acting like brokers for illegal construction.” He also alleged political influence over approvals, claiming officials are unable to act independently due to administrative pressure.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao accused the government of enabling large-scale land conversion and unchecked approvals. “This project is about changing Goa’s demography and turning it into a colony for outsiders,” he said. “People are suffering while permissions are being pushed without scrutiny.”
GPCC chief Girish Chodankar also criticised the administration, alleging a nexus between political leadership and real estate interests. He warned that approvals granted under the current regime would face scrutiny in the future, adding that opposition parties would continue to challenge the project legally and politically.
The Chairman of the Biodiversity Management Committee of the Karapur-Sarvan Panchayat claimed the project has caused damage to water sources, springs, and grazing land. He alleged that continuous borewell activity has dried up local water bodies and affected livestock-dependent livelihoods. “The wetlands and springs are being destroyed. Fish are dying, and cattle water sources are contaminated,” one member said, urging immediate intervention.
Villagers said the agitation has been ongoing for 69 days, with daily participation from residents despite work and household responsibilities. A panchayat representative noted that the village, with over 7,000 voters, was not taken into confidence before approvals were granted. “When an entire village stands together, it shows the strength of people’s unity,” the representative said. “We will continue until justice is done.”
