A political endorsement of the proposed Film City project in Loliem by Canacona MLA and Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Ramesh Tawadkar, has provoked a strong backlash from villagers and environmental activists, who say the move ignores widespread ecological concerns and grassroots opposition.
Tawadkar, while speaking to media outside the Assembly, asserted that the Film City initiative was in line with sustainable development goals and should be welcomed rather than rejected. “I am in favour of the Film City. It has to come,” he said, dismissing opposition as habitual resistance to development. However, he added that the government would engage with the panchayat and the local community before finalising the decision.
His comments came after the gram sabha of Loliem-Polem unanimously passed a resolution rejecting not just the Film City proposal, but also 13 other development projects approved by the local Comunidade. These include a cricket stadium, a solar power plant, and fruit processing units. Villagers have maintained that these projects pose a serious threat to the ecological integrity of the Bhagwati plateau, a region they describe as both environmentally fragile and culturally significant.
Environmental activist and gram sabha member Prashant Pagi reacted sharply to the MLA’s remarks, calling them both dismissive and misleading. “Instead of acknowledging the collective voice of the people, the MLA labels it as the opinion of a few. Over 200 villagers attended the meeting, and not one person opposed the resolution against the project. That is not a minority voice; it is complete, united opposition,” Pagi said.
Dattaprasad Prabhugaonkar, President of the Loliem-Polem Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), expressed concern over what he described as attempts to steamroll community sentiment. “This plateau is not just land. It represents our heritage, our identity. People will not be silenced by political arrogance or false promises,” he said, adding that the village had consistently resisted such large-scale development, including during the earlier IIT agitation.
Further criticism came from Denis Fernandes of the Citizens Committee of Loliem-Polem, who questioned Tawadkar’s description of the Film City project as a "green initiative." Citing information acquired under the Right to Information Act, Fernandes said the project’s built-up area exceeds three lakh square metres, casting serious doubt on its environmental credentials. “This is a sinister plan to open up the most ecosensitive part of the Bhagwati plateau under the guise of development,” he alleged.
Fernandes also pointed out that more than 1,100 residents had already signed a petition addressed to the Governor and other government authorities demanding the cancellation of all proposed projects on the plateau. “If the Speaker claims that the majority support this project, how is it that the Gram Sabha resolution passed unanimously without a single dissenting vote?” he asked.
Referring to past resistance, Fernandes recalled that the people of Loliem had previously thwarted attempts to set up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus on the same plateau. “The movement against the IIT was strong, but today’s resistance is even more powerful. Lolienkars are determined to protect this land at any cost,” he said.
The villagers have urged Tawadkar to reconsider his stand and respect the sentiments of the local population by shelving all the projects planned for the Bhagwati plateau. As tensions rise, the issue is quickly emerging as a flashpoint in Goa’s ongoing debate over development and environmental preservation.