Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said a solution to the concerns raised by Karapur-Sarvan villagers over the House of Abhinandan Lodha township project could be reached within two days, while assuring that their interests would be protected.Sawant, who met the villagers following his assurance during the recently concluded assembly session, said he could not directly halt the project as demanded by the protesters. However, he directed the deputy collector to examine all permissions granted to the project and explore a legal way forward.“Whatever decision can be taken in their interest, I will take it by tomorrow or day after. I have told the deputy collector to convene a meeting with the director of environment and decide on a legal way out and what is in the villagers’ interest. We will see that their issue is resolved,” Sawant said after the meeting.The villagers’ protest against the township project has now completed more than 150 days. “They have raised two-three issues about the project like environmental issues. The matter is before the National Green Tribunal and before the high court. Even then they have asked that the project be halted. As a chief minister, I cannot directly stop any project,” Sawant said.He said the deputy collector had been told to verify each permission granted to the project, examine the stop-work order previously issued by the panchayat and determine what action could legally be taken.The villagers said they were hopeful of a positive outcome following the meeting.“Since our protest started, for the first time in 150 days, we have had a positive meeting. We have to wait and watch now. We have raised the issue of women protesters too being harassed by issuance of notices to Maharashtra police. The CM has said that officials here will also coordinate with Maharashtra police and he said no person from here will have to go to Maharashtra on directives of police there,” a villager said.The villagers have alleged that the township project is being developed without the required environmental clearances. They have also claimed it would put undue pressure on the village’s water and other natural resources and threaten its character.
