MAPUSA
In a significant development for residents of Siolim, the Supreme Court has issued notices to all concerned parties, including State Government departments, in a petition challenging the construction of luxury villas near the historic Oxel spring. The matter has been scheduled for hearing in April.
The Special Leave Petition (SLP) was filed by local resident Suraj Chodankar and green activist Avertino Miranda after the Bombay High Court at Goa dismissed their earlier plea contesting the permissions granted for the project.
At the heart of the dispute is the proposed construction of eight residential villas, each with a private swimming pool, within 34.5 metres of the 363-year-old Oxel spring — a perennial natural water source that has traditionally supplied water to sections of Siolim village.
In their petition before the apex court, the appellants have argued that the project poses a serious threat to the fragile ecosystem surrounding the spring. They contend that excavation, construction activity, and increased groundwater extraction could disrupt the natural flow of the spring and irreversibly damage biodiversity in the area.
“The spring is not merely a water body but part of the village’s ecological and cultural heritage. Any interference in its immediate vicinity will have long-term consequences,” one of the petitioners stated, welcoming the Supreme Court’s decision to issue notice.
The villagers had earlier staged protests against the project, expressing fears that the development could impact water security in the locality. Environmentalists have also raised concerns about the cumulative effect of high-end real estate projects near traditional water sources across coastal Goa.
While issuing notice, the Supreme Court has sought responses from the State authorities and other respondents involved in granting permissions for the construction. The notices indicate that the court has found sufficient grounds to examine the matter further, though no interim relief has been reported at this stage.
