Multiple village panchayats across Goa have voiced strong concerns over land use, infrastructure projects, and legal matters during recent gram sabha sessions, underscoring growing grassroots resistance to development decisions perceived as top-down and inadequately consultative.
In Aldona, residents opposed the proposed construction of a futsal ground behind St. Thomas Girls School, a project taken up by the Directorate of Sports. Despite public dissent, Sarpanch Ashwin Desouza refused to pass a resolution. Infrastructure issues were also raised, with villagers seeking a more practical road network plan—proposing 10-meter-wide roads for major district routes and 6-meter-wide roads within the village.
In Ucassaim, the panchayat resolved to appeal to the government for intervention in light of a High Court order mandating the demolition of roadside shops. While acknowledging legal obligations, villagers urged that action be taken to safeguard the livelihoods of local business owners affected by the ruling.
In Mulgao, the panchayat passed a resolution urging the state government to convene a meeting on the removal of settlements and temples situated outside the iron ore lease boundaries. It also opposed the establishment of a Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) plant in the area, citing environmental concerns and alleged procedural lapses, and called for revocation of the project’s approval.
These developments highlight increasing local pushback against infrastructural and regulatory decisions that, according to villagers, lack community involvement and often fail to account for regional environmental, cultural, and socio-economic factors.