PANJIM: In a major setback to The Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Limited, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has quashed the construction license for the project granted by Mollem village panchayat.
The court observed that the permission was granted by the sarpanch without a resolution passed by the panchayat body. The High Court has, however, asked the village panchayat to reconsider the project, if the firm makes a fresh application, but by following the due process.
A group of villagers had approached the court challenging the approval for the project. The panchayat, in the previous hearing, was also asked to file its say on the basis of which its sarpanch issued the permission for the project.
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat has welcomed the decision and tweeted stating, “Welcome the decision of the High Court to revoke the construction licence of Tamnar project. The local panchayat must now go with the people’s voice and refrain from any act which will destroy the identity of Goa.”
Reacting to the order Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai said, “The High Court decision to stay the panchayat permission for the linear projects indicate that this immoral and destructive project doesn’t follow the spirit of the law. This illegal move violates the letter of the law and is all the more reason for all of us unite to save Goa now.”
The project comprises the construction of a sub-station with a 220 KV double circuit line of 21 km, laying of a 400 KV double circuit line of 54 km spread across Goa, among others as it plans to cover Chhattisgarh and Karnataka for its vast project.
