In a saga that villagers describe as a case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) granted NOCs for two construction projects in 2024 —only for the Colva Panchayat to issue Stop Work Notices in 2025, before ultimately granting a construction licence just three months later. The dramatic U-turn has left locals baffled and enraged. Frustrated by what they view as contradictory actions by the panchayat and State authorities, residents of Colva’s Bangdem ward are now pre paring to knock on the doors of the Goa Bench of the Bom bay High Court — unless the GCZMA intervenes to ‘set the wrong right’. The ward, designated as a fishing village under the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2011, became the site of controversy after locals discovered residential villas — complete with swimming pools — being built under GCZMA approvals they were unaware of. Construction began quiet ly, but suspicions soon arose. The first Stop Work Notice was issued on March 3, 2025, by the Colva Panchayat. The pro ject in-charge was directed to “produce documents ie valid construction licence, approved plan, and TCP clearance within three days of the said construc tion activities.” Despite the notice, con struction continued unabated. On June 11, 2025, a second Stop Work Notice followed. The Panchayat warned: “It has come to the notice of the Panchayat that in spite of the Stop Work Notice issued by this Panchayat vide Ref No VP/ SVCG/149/2025-2026 dated 17-04-2025, you have still un dertaken illegal construction activities on property bearing Sy No 77/1K at Colva village (3rd ward Colva).” Locals were outraged. “Con struction was going on around us without even the Panchayat being aware of it — it was turning into a big joke on the village,” says Eulogio Gomes, the first villager to raise objections.
“People with money think they can ignore the fishers. That’s why I approached the Colva Civic and Consumer Fo rum. A few of us alone couldn’t counter the money power of the outsiders involved,” Gomes adds. The Colva Civic and Consumer Forum responded by writ ing to the GCZMA on September 15, 2025, demanding that the authority recall the GCZMA permissions/NOCs for the two projects comprising ten villas, a swimming pool and compound — falling within the fishing ward’s CRZ bound aries and partly within the 200–500m CRZ line. For local resident Antonia Fernandes, the concern is per sonal and practical. “We need space to dry our fishing nets. With these units coming up, traffic will increase and the space for our nets will shrink,” she explains. Beyond construction, there is growing fear that road widening will follow — putting even more pressure on the traditional fishing ward. This is not the first time Bangdem has resisted develop ment. In 1985, residents collectively opposed a proposed road widening under the Land Acquisition Act. Their letter stated: “The proposed acquisition of land ad-measuring 4,735.00 sq metres at Bangdem, Colva… should not be ac quired as we, the residents, are not interested in the same,” signed by over 40 villagers. More recently, the Gram Sabha of Colva passed a reso lution that no mega project should be allowed without a carrying capacity study of the village. Still, confusion reigns. Menino Fernandes, the current Panch of Bangdem, says his hands are tied.
“If we object, the builders get permissions from higher authorities in Panjim. Then we’re compelled to obey. If we say no, the BDO steps in on their behalf,” he admits. Caught between local opposition and administrative pressure, Fernandes reflects on the dilemma: “Some vil lagers are against the project and some ward members are not. As Panch, what do I do?” he wonders aloud. “The construction licence was granted by a Panch before me, but now I have to carry the baggage. It’s important to think of the future before clearing projects,” he adds. The controversy is not isolated. According to a recent re ply to a Legislative Assembly Question (LAQ), 344 CRZ vio lations have been reported in Goa — 10 from Colva alone. When contacted, GCZMA Secretary Sachin Dessai said he was unaware of the issue and needed time to check the files. A copy of the Forum’s September 15 letter was shared with him. He promised to revert — but as of press time, no response had been received.