The Bhutani Project in Sancoale, Goa has been a topic of contention and concern among the local community, raising questions about its
sustainability and impact on the environment and
infrastructure.
The project has become the centre of a fierce battle between people and government. As mega projects threaten to alter the very fabric of Goan society, locals are rising up in unprecedented numbers.
This was evident when battle against the project intensified on Sunday, with activists and the people from across Goa joined the protest and held a candlelight march in the village, demanding that the State government immediately withdraw the permission granted to the ‘controversial’ project.
The Bhutani Sancoale project, is a massive construction endeavour that many Goans see as a direct assault on their way of life. The project’s unfolding saga serves as a stark reminder of the threats posed by large construction projects to the State’s fragile ecology.
The Goans have been consistently opposing mega projects, citing environmental concerns and the burden on infrastructure. The protesters say that these mega projects will consume large amounts of water, destroy the hills, water resources and the large tracts of paddy fields, which will eventually affect Goan households.
People fear that mega projects will change the social and physical structure of Goa. That is why they are fighting, not just against individual projects, but against a system they believe has failed them.
The continuous disregard for public opinion has only fuelled stronger movements, and history shows that the power of the people has overturned government decisions before. The best example of that being the withdrawal of four proposed bills by the government, including the ‘controversial’ Goa Town and Country Planning (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2024. It will happen again if the voices of Goans continue to be bulldozed.
Goa finds itself at a critical crossroads, facing widespread hill cutting and uncontrolled development that experts warn could lead to similar disasters. The State government has to stop giving permissions to mega construction projects in the State.
The recent devastating landslides at Wayanad in Kerala should act as an eye opener to all those who indulge in unplanned urbanisation of Goa.
Random hill cutting, chopping of trees, rampant sand mining, filling up of fields and water bodies have done enough damage already. All these illegalities are happening with the patronage of some politicians.
Goa is not untouched by natural calamities. If the destruction of our natural heritage is not stopped, then doomsday won’t be far away. The writing is on the wall.
Not just Goa, entire Western Ghats, which is a recognised UNESCO heritage site, is actually under threat because of rampant construction.
The Western Ghats, which is among 36 global biodiversity hotspots, saw a loss of 5% evergreen forest cover with an increase of 4.5% built-up cover, and 9% agriculture area. According to a study by the Institute of Science’s Energy and Wetlands Research Group, activities like rampant stone quarrying, construction of infrastructure in fragile areas and deforestation for commercial plantation have led to massive changes in the Ghats, causing landslides, floods, droughts and other events in which hundreds have died.
The report recommended a complete ban on new urban development in the Western Ghats region to prevent habitat destruction and pollution.
It also recommended designating the entire region as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
But our politicians refuse to pay heed to any kind of warning from environment experts. This is visible from Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s statement that the government will exclude maximum villages from the Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs).
In the draft Western Ghats ESA notification, the Centre has marked 108 villages in Goa as ESA. Of these 108 villages, 64 are situated in North Goa and 44 in South Goa district.
The Goa government had earlier requested the Centre to exclude 40 villages from eco-sensitive areas. It appears that it wants more villages not to be included in the eco sensitive zone, quite obviously to allow its version of “development” to happen there.
While the politicians are adamant upon coming up with policies that can potentially destroy environment, it is the common man who has to suffer from the nature’s fury, that gets triggered by the constant tampering with the nature. But the government cares less.