Land at Panzorconne-Cuncolim acquired by the Goa Housing Board, where a proposed housing project has triggered prolonged resistance from local residents.
MARGAO
A controversial housing project proposed by the Goa Housing Board at Panzorconne in Cuncolim continues to stir questions after officials reportedly sought procedural clearances despite assurances from the State government that the project would not move forward without consulting local stakeholders.
The development comes ahead of the Budget Session of the Goa Legislative Assembly beginning on March 6. During the last Assembly session on January 13, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had assured Cuncolim MLA and Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao that the government would take a final decision on the project only after taking local stakeholders into confidence.
However, nearly two months later, there seems to be little change in the approach of the Goa Housing Board. Sources have revealed that officials of the Housing Board have continued to contact the Cuncolim Municipal Council, inquiring when the civic body would grant the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the development of plots on the Board’s property. The plots are reportedly intended for allotment to beneficiaries.
Housing Board officials are understood to have repeatedly followed up with the Municipal Chief Officer for issuance of the NOCs, even after the Chief Minister’s categorical assurance on the floor of the House that the project would not proceed without the consent of local stakeholders.
The continued push for clearances has raised questions about whether the chief minister’s assurance has filtered down to the administrative machinery, particularly the Goa Housing Board. If the government has indeed resolved not to move forward without stakeholder consent, locals are asking why the Board continues to pursue approvals for plot development.
For the people of Cuncolim, who have vehemently opposed the project for over 20 years, the developments suggest that despite assurances in the Assembly, the status quo remains unchanged.
As the Budget Session approaches, all eyes will now be on the government to clarify its stand and indicate whether the controversial Panzorconne housing project will be put on hold pending consultations — or quietly pushed through administrative channels.
HC order dilemma
The issue is further complicated by directions issued earlier by the High Court to the Goa Housing Board.
On November 10, 2023, the High Court, while confirming an earlier order of the South Goa District Court in favour of the plot beneficiaries, directed the Goa Housing Board to allot plots to four petitioners at its Panzorconne-Cuncolim property, albeit with certain modifications. The court had also stipulated a time frame for compliance.
More than two years have now elapsed since those directions were issued, raising questions over the government’s next course of action.
With the Chief Minister assuring the Assembly that no final decision would be taken without consulting local stakeholders, the administration now faces a dilemma over whether to challenge the High Court’s order or take a policy decision to scrap the project in what it could term the larger public interest.
Long-standing opposition
The proposed housing project has faced stiff opposition from sections of Cuncolim residents for over two decades. The resistance dates back to the tenure of then housing minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, when locals protested against the project during its launch at Charam Moddi.
Residents, particularly from Panzorconne, have argued that the housing scheme could lead to large-scale settlement of outsiders and alter the demographic profile of the area while placing additional pressure on already stretched civic infrastructure, such as roads and water supply.
Taking note of the strong public sentiment, former chief minister Manohar Parrikar had subsequently put the project on hold. Later, the Congress government led by then chief minister Pratapsing Rane, which assumed office in 2005, went a step further and announced that the project would be scrapped.
At the time, Cuncolim MLA Joaquim Alemao, who was then holding charge of the Urban Development portfolio, had announced that the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) would purchase the disputed property by paying Rs 5 crore to the Goa Housing Board.
However, the land continues to remain with the Goa Housing Board, leaving unresolved questions over the fate of a project that has remained contentious for more than 20 years.
