PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday declared that a stop work order will be issued against the controversial mega construction project at Carambolim, following mounting opposition from local residents and activists.
In a statement issued, Sawant said that he has spoken to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vishwajit Rane regarding the issue and has conveyed the decision to MLA Viresh Borkar.
"I have spoken to the Minister for Town & Country Planning and conveyed to MLA Viresh Borkar that a notice will be issued to the concerned project at Carambolim. Further, in the next TCP Board meeting scheduled within the next three days, a Stop Work Order for the said project will be issued," Sawant said.
The CM's assurance came following a sit-in protest by villagers from Carambolim at the TCP office in Panaji against a proposed mega construction project in their village. The protest, that was withdrawn later at night, was led by Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) MLA Viresh Borkar.
The villagers are opposing a development plan that proposes 84 residential flats, 46 commercial shops and a swimming pool, on land with a 3 to 4-metre existing road, while permissions were issued for a 15-metre proposed road. The villagers argue that the project would place severe pressure on the village’s already strained infrastructure, including roads, water supply and other civic amenities.
They also highlighted the project’s proximity to a Hindu crematorium and a 3.45 MLD water shortage, stressing that these issues pose serious risks to public safety and local infrastructure. Despite objections from the Village Panchayat and Gram Sabha, the project received provisional approval from the TCP.
The protesters marched to the TCP office seeking answers from officials but were stopped by police. Although TCP officials offered to hold discussions with five representatives, the villagers rejected the proposal, insisting that officials address all protesters collectively.
Following this, residents staged a sit-in protest at the entrance of the TCP office, demanding transparency and a review of the project approval, warning of long-term consequences for Carambolim if such developments are allowed to proceed unchecked. After much protest, a delegation led by Borkar was allowed to meet the Chief Town Planner.
Addressing the protesters post meeting, Borkar alleged serious irregularities in the functioning of the TCP department. He claimed that “clear shortfalls exist on the ground, yet permissions are shamelessly granted,” alleging that inspections are “fixed, not real”.
Borkar also accused the TCP department of acting under political pressure rather than in the interest of public planning. He alleged that laws are twisted, files cleared overnight and officers pressured to approve projects, while people’s objections are ignored.
