In his latest budget speech, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant made a striking announcement. The power to grant approvals for mega projects in rural areas will now rest with a steering committee chaired by the Chief Minister himself, replacing the authority previously held by the TCP. A notification specifying the land threshold under this committee’s jurisdiction is expected soon. The government has thus made a strategic move, transferring powers from the TCP authorities to this newly formed body.
The rationale behind this shift, according to the Chief Minister, is to address the common objections raised at the local level when mega projects are proposed. Concerns such as water and electricity shortages. To counter this, representatives from key departments, including water supply, electricity, water resources, and public works, will now have seats on the steering committee. The intent, as presented, is to ensure that infrastructural feasibility is assessed before granting project
approvals.
However, a fundamental question remains unanswered: will the village panchayat, representing the very community affected by these projects, have any role in this decision-making process? The Panchayat Raj Act of the state guarantees local governance a voice in such matters. If that voice is being sidelined in favour of a centralised steering committee, then this move represents an alarming erosion of local self-governance.
A closer look at recent gram sabhas across the state underscores the gravity of this issue. Over the past several months, an overwhelming majority, over 90% of gram sabhas have witnessed strong opposition to proposed projects in their villages. Villagers have repeatedly passed resolutions rejecting projects they deem harmful to their local environment and way of life. Yet, these resolutions often amount to little more than symbolic resistance, as final approvals bypass them entirely. Companies behind mega projects frequently obtain clearances directly from state-level departments, rendering local dissent ineffective.
If the Chief Minister’s office is now centralising all powers related to project approvals under a single steering committee, does this mean the existing system of permissions from various state departments will be dismantled? Will the upcoming notification explicitly state that all project approvals outside the steering committee’s purview, except those granted by panchayats under their legal authority, will be frozen? These are the pressing questions that remain unaddressed.
The government should not merely focus on managing opposition to mega projects; it must instead examine the root causes of such resistance. The case of the Bhutani project in Sancoale is a telling example. Despite vocal opposition, multiple legal violations, and even hunger strikes, the project continued to push forward. This raises another critical concern: will the new steering committee genuinely acknowledge and act upon local resistance, or will it function merely as a rubber stamp for corporate interests?
Beyond Sancoale , villages across Goa, whether coastal hubs like Varca, Carmona, and Benaulim in Salcete, or mining-affected regions like Mulgaon and Mayem in North Goa, have been demanding comprehensive studies on their carrying capacities before permitting mega projects. The government should prioritise conducting environmental and infrastructural feasibility studies before approving large-scale developments.
Ultimately, governance is not merely about drafting policies and establishing committees; it is about meaningful engagement with the people. The increasing number of legal challenges against government decisions in the High Court is a testament to the growing disconnect between the administration and the public. If the newly formed steering committee is to have any legitimacy, it must not operate in isolation but in consultation with village panchayats and local communities. Otherwise, it risks becoming yet another bureaucratic tool to sidestep democratic governance and facilitate unchecked development at the expense of Goa’s identity, environment, and people.