In a significant development, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was compelled to personally intervene on Monday following a sustained, day-long protest by residents of Carambolim, a village near Panaji. The protest, which saw strong participation from women, was directed against a proposed mega housing project in the area.
CM's Assurance Halts Protests
Unnerved by the determined sit-in that lasted well into the night, Chief Minister Sawant made a telephonic call to the protesters. He provided a concrete assurance that the state government would issue a stop work order against the developer. Sawant outlined the procedural steps, stating that a show cause notice would be issued to the developer on Tuesday itself. He further promised to instruct the concerned department to convene a board meeting within three to four days, where the formal stop work order would be issued. The CM also confirmed having discussed the matter with the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister, Vishwajit Rane.
Roots of the Carambolim Residents' Anger
The protest, led by the organization Revolutionary Goans (RG) alongside local villagers, was staged outside the office of the TCP department in Panaji. The bone of contention is a large-scale project proposing 84 residential flats, 46 commercial shops, and a swimming pool. Locals vehemently oppose it, citing severe strain on the village's already fragile infrastructure.
A major allegation raised by the protesters involves a glaring discrepancy in the project plans. They claim that while the TCP department approved the project based on plans showing a 5.5-metre-wide road access, an actual site inspection revealed the existing road to be only 3.5 metres wide. This alleged misrepresentation fueled public anger.
The protesters attempted to storm the TCP office to meet Chief Town Planner Vertika Dagur and demand the scrapping of technical permissions but were stopped by police. RG president Manoj Parab criticized officials, stating that while the chief town planner signs the files, she claims to have no power to act on violations. "When there is a violation, when there is fake documentation, then they have the full right to stop the work," Parab asserted. He also directly accused TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane of favouring builders from other states.
Political Support and Firm Demands
The protest, which began at 9:30 AM, gained momentum as the day progressed. Opposition leader Yuri Alemao of the Congress party joined the demonstrators in the evening, pledging his party's support. Alemao demanded the immediate cancellation of all technical orders granted for the project and accused the state government of protecting builders at the cost of locals.
RG MLA Viresh Borkar echoed the concerns about infrastructure overload. The protesters remained steadfast at the office gate, refusing to disperse without a firm commitment from the authorities. Their persistence ultimately led to the CM's late-night intervention. The protesters have warned that they will return if the TCP department does not formally scrap the project approvals within three days.
