Team Herald
MORJIM: The construction of a hotel with a swimming pool in Khindwadda, Morjim, has sparked outrage among local residents who allege that the project was built without proper permissions from the Panchayat or any relevant authorities. The controversy has intensified as authorities appear to be turning a blind eye to the issue.
Locals were shocked to learn that the hotel, built on Survey Nos 56 and 48, was completed despite claims from the Morjim Panchayat that no official approval had been granted. Morjim Sarpanch Mukesh Gadekar confirmed, “The Panchayat has given no permission for this construction.”
However, Gaurish Naik, a representative of Magna Amusement & Leisure Private Limited, the company behind the project, insisted that the Panchayat had granted approval on June 20, 2020.
A closer look at the permission granted on June 20, 2020, reveals that it was issued by the then Morjim Sarpanch, Vaishali
Shetgaonkar.
She had granted permission for the operation of a cafeteria and food court by Magna Amusement & Leisure Private Limited – but does not mention a hotel or a swimming pool.
Naik, speaking on behalf of the company, said, “We promise that the hotel will not open before we receive the Occupancy Certificate from the Panchayat. We will resolve the matter before opening.”
However, Sarpanch Gadekar remained firm, stating, “The Panchayat has given no permission for construction and we will discuss the Occupancy Certificate when we receive the application.”
Local residents are particularly outraged by what they see as the unchecked development of properties by outsiders. Albert Fernandes, a Morjim resident, expressed his frustration: “It is shameful to be a Goan when people from outside build without regard for local authorities. If a local builds even a room, demolition notices are immediately served. Meanwhile, this property has not only built rooms and a swimming pool but has also buried a sacred well without permission, and no one seems to care.”
Naik, however, defended the construction, stating that the company had applied to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department for permission to build the swimming pool. Yet, he could not clarify how the pool was constructed before receiving the necessary approval. “We are sure to get the permission,” he added, explaining that the company had an agreement with the Morjim Devasthan, which owns the land, to return the land in its original state after 15 years.
Prasad Kavlekar, Senior General Manager of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), clarified that the GTDC had approved the proposal to open a hotel to boost foot traffic but had only given permission to operate the hotel on the condition that all necessary permissions for construction were obtained. “The GTDC has not given permission to build, only approval to operate once all the required permissions are in place,” Kavlekar stated.
The incident has fuelled concerns about the growing influence of outside developers in Goa, with some residents accusing a ‘Delhi mafia’ of taking advantage of the State’s land. Vinayak Datta, a local resident, remarked, “This is proof that the Delhi mafia thinks Goa is theirs. They have taken much of our land, including sacred places, without any consideration, while the government has been a mute spectator.”
Mayur Shetgaonkar, another Morjim resident, shared his frustration, revealing that he had submitted a formal complaint to the Morjim Panchayat when construction began but received no response. "I gave a written complaint, and yet the Panchayat chose to remain silent," he said.