Panaji: The agitation against a luxury housing project coming up in Karapur-Sarvan has been going on for 100 days and the villagers chose to mark the milestone by staging a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.The villagers, backed by environmentalists and opposition parties, have demanded that the town and country planning (TCP) department and other authorities withdraw the permissions given to House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) for the housing-cum-commercial project.The protesters also want govt to take steps to protect the environment, rights of the villagers and basic infrastructure.Residents are demanding a halt to the 5.5 lakh sqm housing project, citing loss of forest, livelihood, and lack of basic infrastructure already missing from the area.Some villagers and activists also gathered at Azad Maidan in Panaji and questioned the silence of ST MLAs and ministers, asking why they have not spoken on the issue. Most of the protesters and villagers belong to the ST and OBC communities.“BJP govt is not listening to us. But its IT cell is active to undermine our protest,” said Ajay Prabhu Gaonkar, who is in Delhi for the protest.Protest leaders have promised to intensify their agitation if their demands are not met. AAP MLA Venzy Viegas said that each constituency should show solidarity with the protest by joining the agitation on a daily basis.“If this govt does not scrap this project, the anger will return and it will be the end of this govt. Sawant is as much responsible as Vishwajit Rane for this mess. The project land is owned by the minister and his wife and they have sold this land and after they sold the land, all the permissions are given under Section 39 and 17(2) by the TCP minister, Rane,” said Goa Foundation’s Claude Alvares.Congress and AAP backed the people of Karapur with both the parties demanding the immediate withdrawal of the proposed mega real estate project. The locals have warned that if BJP govt continues to ignore their voice, their movement would intensify.South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes, former Delhi chief minister Atishi, AAP Goa president Valmiki Naik and former Delhi mayor Shelly Oberoi also joined the protesters at Jantar Mantar.HoABL reiterated that it has all the required approvals for the project. “We are open to dialogue with the villagers who are the real stakeholders. Despite this, certain activists have repeatedly attempted to politicise the issue as every possible attempt to disrupt the progress of our project legally has failed. Since these efforts have not succeeded, they have now taken the matter to Delhi, reportedly with the backing of a political party,” said HoABL in a statement.The firm also said that the project at Karapur Sarvan is not a Lodha Developers project. “These activists pursuing personal political ambitions, their focus should be on the state’s development and the long-term benefits that balanced and responsible development can bring to Goa’s villages, local communities, and economy. We have consistently clarified that HoABL has been established in 2020 and is not, in any manner, associated with ‘Lodha’ / ‘Lodha Group’,” said HoABL in a statement.CM refuses to comment on issueChief minister Pramod Sawant refused to comment on the protest at Jantar Mantar as the case is sub-judice. “The case is being heard by the court and the panchayat and whatever action the panchayat needs to take, will be taken. Rest all is in the court,” said Sawant.
