MARGAO
Residents of Maina in Curtorim village have tasted first success in their ongoing battle against housing projects in the village as the Secretary, Panchayats Cheshta Yadav, IAS upheld and confirmed the resolution dated October 1, 2025 passed by the Curtorim village Panchayat objecting to and halting construction work.
In fact, while quashing and setting aside the judgement and order of the Additional Panchayat Director-II South, the Secretary, Panchayats upheld and confirmed the Panchayat resolution as a valid, lawful and necessary exercise of local administration and environmental protection.
In the order, the Secretary, Panchayats said the stop notices issued by the Village Panchayat against the construction project are confirmed, and the prayer of the Petitioner (owner) seeking a direction to compel the Panchayat to issue a work commencement letter stands rejected.
The order asserted that no construction activity shall be permitted to proceed on the site under the present situation and the Village Panchayat shall enforce its stop work notice until such time the environmental remediation and infrastructural adequacy are fully resolved to the satisfaction of the local body.
The proceedings originate from an Order dated February 26, 2026 passed by the Additional Director of Panchayats-II, South Goa under Section 178(1) of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994.
The case pertains to a construction project of a private property owner, the Petitioner and respondent Village Panchayat of Curtorim. The issue raised before the Authority was regarding the statutory duties, environmental concerns and grassroots governance mandates raised by the Village Panchayat of Curtorim, supported by the local villagers and intervenor who claim to be party assisting the Village Panchayat Curtorim.
Welcoming the Order passed by the Secretary, Panchayats, Congress leader Moreno Rebello said the order is a huge relief to the people of Maina. Rebello said he along with the villagers of Maina Curtorim had intervened in the matter to upheld the order of the panchayat to stop work in the construction of housing project at Gogalli
“Today the order of secretary Panchayats Cheshta Yadav is a huge relief to the people of Maina. It is important to note that the stop work order was issued after villagers marched to the panchayat, forcing the panchayat to issue the stop work order”, Rebello added.
Meanwhile, Curtorim sarpanch Milagres Rodrigues said the Panchayat had filed the petition before the Secretary Panchayats as the body had supported the people against the project.
He said the order passed by the Secretary, Panchayats shows that the Curtorim panchayat is with the people against housing projects. “The case has ended in favour of the panchayat. There is a misconception that the panchaayt is supporting the builders. That is not the case. We will always remain with the people”, he said.
To a question, the sarpanch said the panchayat would take appropriate steps in the even the order of the Secretary, Panchayats is challenged by the owner.
