PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday issued notices to the State government, the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department, and others in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition challenging the technical clearance granted for the construction of eight residential villas, along with swimming pools and soak pits, at Oxel, Siolim.
The petition, filed by Suraj Chodankar and Avertino Miranda, seeks to quash the clearance order issued by the Senior Town Planner, Mapusa, and to revoke the construction licence granted by the Oxel Village Panchayat. The petitioners have also requested that the site be restored to its original condition.
The key grievance stems from the proximity of the project, which is approximately 33 metres from the Oxel Spring, a water body designated by the Water Resources Department (WRD) for protection following a High Court order issued in March.
The petitioners argue that the environmental impact on the spring's catchment area and water reserves was not properly assessed by the authorities. Furthermore, the Oxel Village Panchayat allegedly failed to evaluate the project's feasibility in terms of essential infrastructure, such as water supply, electricity, and waste management, which raises concerns due to existing water shortages in the village.
Additionally, the petition highlights that the project was approved without a six-metre wide physical road, as required by the 2010 Building Regulations. The TCP Department granted technical clearance for the project in February 2024, with the Oxel Village Panchayat issuing the construction license in March.
The respondents in the case include the State government, TCP Department, Senior Town Planner, WRD, Oxel Village Panchayat, M/s Rara Exports Pvt Ltd, Vinto Sahni, and M/s Jai Santoshi Housing Pvt Ltd. The next hearing is scheduled for October 15.