A stormy Kara pur-Sarvan gram sabha on Sunday unanimously passed several resolutions demanding a complete halt to a controversial me ga-housing project, follow ing a tense standoff that required police to escort panchayat members out under heavy security. Tem pers flared even before the meeting commenced, with residents forcing police personnel to vacate the hall to ensure an open discus sion. The assembly rapidly devolved into heated ex changes as villagers con fronted the sarpanch over enforcement lapses regard ing a “stop-work” notice is sued to developers earlier. Local law enforcement complied with the man date, moving officers out side the hall while a heavy police presence remained deployed around the pe rimeter to maintain law and order.
Due to an over crowded venue, dozens of residents stood outside the building, monitoring the meeting through the win dows. Once the session opened, residents turned their an ger toward the sarpanch and panchayat members, accusing them of surrep titiously supporting the real estate developers. The assembly demanded a strict accountability audit regarding the project, high lighting critical enforce ment lapses. Heated exchanges broke out when villagers de manded to know why lo cal elected representatives failed to use their execu tive powers to physically freeze site operations dur ing the one-month win dow between April and June before the stay took effect. In defence, the sar panch Bindya Sawant pro duced archived meeting logs, claiming that several prominent figures current ly leading the opposition had previously signed doc uments acknowledging the project, triggering in tense verbal spats between panch members.
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Led by local activist Dr Swapnil Salelkar, the gram sabha institutionalised a heavy legal defence against the development. Resi dents voted to oppose Sec tion 39A of the TCP Act, an administrative clause they claim allows the state gov ernment to force top-down land conversions while by passing village authority. Detailing catastrophic ecological threats facing survey numbers, speakers warned that the mega-project sits di rectly on critical freshwater springs that sustain local wa ter tables, village lakes, and local wildlife populations. By the conclusion of the meeting, the assembly passed several resolutions via an absolute voice vote. The passed mandates demand that the State government immediatelywithdraw the application of Section 39 in Karapur, enforce a permanent ban on large-scale commercial or residential townships, and preserve the village’s agricultural and en vironmental identity. Formal copies of these mandates are being dispatched directly to the Chief Minister, the Gover nor of Goa, the Chief Secretary, and the Biodiversity Board. Beyond the real estate battle, the gram sabha passed a se ries of strict civic directives, ordering immediate pre-mon soon gutter desilting near two temples, automated timer integrations for the street lighting grid, and a technical title deed audit on ongoing land-plotting in Phulewada. The hostility did not subside after the meeting was officially closed.
Disgruntled villagers blocked the venue exits, contin uing to cross-examine officials over their perceived inaction. Anticipating violence, police officers formed a protective cor don to escort the sarpanch, secretary, and panchayat members safely off the premises. As the elected representatives moved to their vehicles, angry crowds jeered and shouted slogans of “chor, chor” (thief, thief). No physical violence or untoward in cidents were reported as the crowds eventually dispersed. Speaking to reporters, sarpanch Bindya Sawant said, “We have addressed all the points brought up during the gram sabha. Our intent is to move a formal resolution to the government opposing Section 39A. Regarding the con troversial mega project, the panchayat has already issued a ‘stop work’ notice and a show-cause notice, though the matter is currently pending a temporary stay and ongoing legal evaluation in court. Furthermore, active steps are be ing taken to resolve local road funding and general infra structure grievances.” “Look at what Karapur is facing today; there are major issues right in front of us. We need to see what is happen ing here. Today, we see such heavy police deployment— what could be the reason for this? It feels very unfortunate that our brothers are being harassed on a Sunday. Local village meetings are normally held in a completely peace ful manner. Everyone knows what is happening. The State government needs to clarify things to the people. This en tire situation has arisen because major wealthy business interests and large outside builders are entering our vil lage,” said a local.
