Goa Khabar : The Village Panchayat of Thivim conducted a joint site inspection of the proposed mega project located near the St. Francis Xavier Chapel at Gavoim, Thivim, following strong objections raised by local residents.
The inspection was carried out around 12:00 pm by the Sarpanch and Secretary of the Village Panchayat Thivim in the presence of villagers and representatives of the builder.
Hundreds of villagers from Gavoim and nearby areas gathered at the site to express their united opposition to the mega project, which they believe poses a serious threat to the heritage, environment, and peaceful character of the locality surrounding the historic chapel.
Also present during the inspection were Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) President Manoj Parab and RGP Treasurer Ajay Kholkar, who attended the inspection in solidarity with the villagers and to support their ongoing campaign “Amchem Kopel Amkam Zai” aimed at protecting the area from large-scale development.
During the inspection, a major violation related to the approach road to the project site was observed and recorded. As per the existing building regulations, a minimum of 6 meters wide existing road is mandatory for such a project. However, measurements taken at multiple locations along the approach road revealed that the road width was significantly below the required limit. At different points, the road was found to be only 2.5 meters to 3.4 meters wide, which clearly falls short of the prescribed regulatory requirements.
The villagers highlighted that such violations raise serious questions about how permissions were granted for the project in the first place. They demanded strict action from the Panchayat authorities in accordance with the law.
Speaking at the site, Manoj Parab urged the Sarpanch to immediately issue a Stop Notice to the project and initiate necessary legal procedures. He further requested that the detailed inspection report be placed before the Panchayat body in the upcoming meeting so that appropriate action can be taken, including revocation of the construction license if violations are confirmed.
Parab also thanked the villagers for their overwhelming participation and unity during the inspection. He said that the large turnout has given a major boost to the ongoing “Amchem Kopel Amkam Zai” campaign, which seeks to protect Thivim from uncontrolled mega projects and preserve the identity, heritage, and environment of the village.
The villagers reiterated their firm resolve to continue the movement until the proposed project near the chapel is stopped and the sanctity of the area is preserved for future generations.
