Goa Court Halts Tourism Project Near Chimbel Lake After Protests
In a significant win for local residents, the district sessions court in Panaji quashed a construction license for a controversial tourism project on Wednesday. The court's decision came after two weeks of sustained protests by the people of Chimbel against the twin projects proposed by the government.
Court Quashes License and Orders
The principal district judge heard a revision application and set aside multiple orders. The court quashed the block development officer's directive and the deputy director of panchayats' dismissal. Most importantly, it invalidated the construction license issued by the Chimbel panchayat secretary.
Advocate Malisa Simoes, representing biodiversity management committee chairperson Govind Shirodkar, clarified the immediate impact. "Therefore, no activity as of today can go on at the site of Unity Mall," Simoes stated.
Background of the Legal Battle
The conflict began when the Chimbel panchayat resolved to reject the construction license application for the project. However, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) challenged this resolution before the block development officer of Tiswadi.
The BDO then directed the panchayat to issue a construction license within twenty-four hours. When the panchayat appealed this order, the deputy director of panchayats dismissed their revision application, upholding the BDO's decision.
This chain of events prompted Govind Shirodkar to file a revision application under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act. The court had previously granted ad-interim relief to Shirodkar on December 6, staying the orders of both the deputy director and the BDO.
Court's Observations and Concerns
During the proceedings, the court noted that construction activities were proceeding rapidly at the site. Shirodkar raised serious questions about the validity of the construction license and permissions granted to the GTDC.
The court found these contentions substantial enough to warrant immediate action. In its opinion, the GTDC needed to be temporarily stopped from continuing construction until the matter received full consideration.
Residents' Ecological Concerns
Local residents protested vigorously against the project, citing direct threats to Toyyar Lake, also known as Chimbel Lake. They described this wetland as a critical ecological catchment area and a historic water source.
The lake plays several vital roles for the community:
- Essential groundwater recharge
- Biodiversity preservation
- Livelihood support for local residents
- Particular importance for indigenous and tribal communities
The court's decision represents a temporary victory for environmental protection and community rights in Goa. It halts construction while legal proceedings continue, giving voice to residents' concerns about sustainable development.
