Panaji: With no clear decision emerging from the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (GSEIAA) meeting on Monday, villagers of Karapur-Sarvan demanded that the minutes of the meeting be uploaded onto the department's website within two days.
In an ultimatum, the villagers stated they would hold a massive protest on June 18 if the government does not issue a stop-work order against The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) by Wednesday.
The villagers, who have been protesting against the HoABL project in their village for the past 71 days, arrived in Panaji in the morning and waited outside the environment department office until evening, after being informed that the GSEIAA meeting would be held later that day. A large police force was deployed at the protest venue.
Following the meeting, which discussed whether environmental clearance was required for the project, villagers' representatives met environment department director and GCZMA Member Secretary Sachin Dessai, who informed them that further deliberations by a three-member committee were needed before a final decision could be taken. No definite response was given on the villagers' demand for a stop-work order.
Environmental activist Abhijit Prabhudesai said the GSEIAA meeting's only purpose was to decide whether the project required an EC. “They took two to three hours without reaching a decision. This shows that the government is putting pressure on the officers to protect the project,” said Prabhudesai.
A GSEIAA official said the issues were discussed at length but that more aspects needed to be examined.
A villager said the authority should have passed an interim order against the project but failed to do so, adding that officials had agreed to upload the minutes, after which the villagers would decide their next steps. “Our last deadline is June 17. If we don’t get justice, there will be a massive revolution on June 18,” the villager said, alleging that hills were being cut, fields filled, and trees chopped for the project.
St. Andre MLA Viresh Borkar said the meeting concluded around 7 pm, but officials refused to disclose their decision, claiming department officers appeared constrained in what they could say.
Meanwhile, TOI reached out to HoABL. “We will not like to comment now,” a company representative said.
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