MARGAO
The Cavelossim village panchayat on Saturday revoked the construction licence issued to Ashford Resorts and directed the company to stop all construction activities being carried out under the licence.
The action followed a special meeting of the panchayat chaired by Sarpanch Dixon Vaz on Saturday morning.
A perusal of the directions issued by Cavelossim Panchayat Secretary John Colaco shows that the meeting took note of alleged violations, including the destruction of sand dunes within the fenced area of the property in question.
The meeting also noted alleged violations relating to temporary metal-sheet barricading and fencing, as well as other GCZMA norms.
The notice further pointed out that the panchayat had received complaints from Jose Costa and villagers of Cavelossim and Mobor, dated October 31, 2026, and from Shalton Fernandes, dated November 3, 2026, regarding the alleged destruction of sand dunes within the fenced area.
GCZMA notice seeks demolition, restoration of property
MARGAO: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) Member Secretary Sachin Desai has directed Ashford Resorts to stop all work at the site and issued a show-cause notice asking why the structures should not be demolished and the land restored to its original condition.
The notice lists alleged violations of the CRZ Notification, 2011, observed during an inspection of the property.
It notes that the property is bounded by metal-sheet fencing approximately 3.6 metres high, supported by vertical metal poles measuring around 3.9 metres, while bamboo fencing has been erected along the western (seaward) side.
During the inspection, some column footings of the metal poles were excavated. One pole was found erected on a concrete pedestal. A layer of gravel and metal was also found laid over a portion of the property, while laterite stones and rubble were stacked at various locations.
The notice further records sand mound formations with an undulating terrain profile and dune-pioneering vegetation, including Ipomea biloba, Spinifex and Vitex species, along the southern boundary.
The sand mound at Level 1 was tentatively measured at 1.5 metres above the natural ground level, with a horizontal extent of 3.7 metres. The average height of the Level 2 mound was measured at 2.26 metres, with a horizontal distance of 11.6 metres between the two formations.
The GCZMA also observed beach vegetation along the western seaward side and at various locations within the property, noting that these features made the area ecologically sensitive.
Villagers confront police, seek action on threats to activist
MARGAO: A large number of Cavelossim villagers gathered at Colva police station late Saturday evening, demanding answers over police inaction on alleged threats issued to activist Shalton Fernandes, who is opposing the alleged destruction of sand dunes at Mobor.
Led by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, former MLA Caitu Silva, former bureaucrat Alexio Da Costa, Fernandes, activist Sohail Furtado and others, the villagers questioned PI Tulsidas Naik over what they termed the police’s different approach to complaints.
They pointed out that while police were quick to register FIRs against villagers, no similar action had been initiated against Viraj Desai despite complaints lodged by Fernandes and others.
PI Naik reportedly said the complaint against Desai could amount to a non-cognisable offence but failed to satisfy the villagers.
The villagers warned of a possible law and order situation in Cavelossim if police failed to act and restore peace in the village.
Cavelossim villagers led by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas at the Colva police station to demand action in the complaint filed by Shalton Fernandes.
