BULLSEYE : Lodha project: Sawant Says “Sub Judice”, Rane Says “All Legal” — Really?

The people of Karapur-Sarvan have protested for more than 100 days against the House of Abhinandan Lodha-backed One Goa township, raising serious concerns over land, water, village roads, drainage, forests and the future character of their village. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant says the matter is “sub judice” and that the Panchayat has already acted. Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane says everything has been done according to law, but also claims that he knows nothing about the protest because he does not watch television. Both responses raise more questions than they answer. A pending court case does not mean that the Government must stop governing, refuse inspections, avoid reviewing permissions or allow irreversible damage while litigation continues. The Bombay High Court is examining a direct challenge to Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act. The Court has already recorded that notifications and approvals issued under Section 39A will remain subject to the final outcome of the petitions. Yet the Government continues processing permissions while invoking “sub judice” when villagers demand intervention. The Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority has also identified four projects—Astra, Celeste, Nova and Orion—within Survey Number 148/0. SEIAA has sought clarification on their total built-up area, proximity and whether they must be examined cumulatively under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006. The National Green Tribunal has admitted a petition alleging that the cumulative development covers approximately 53.94 hectares and may cross the 50-hectare threshold requiring prior environmental clearance. The NGT has said that the matter raises a substantial question relating to the environment. No court or tribunal has declared that all questions have been settled in favour of the project. So on what legal or factual foundation can Vishwajit Rane declare that everything is legal? And how can the Chief Minister use “sub judice” as a reason to avoid political and administrative responsibility? The villagers are not asking ministers to replace the courts. They are asking the Government to inspect, verify, review, prevent damage and protect Goa’s land while the courts decide the legal issues. In this episode of Bull’s Eye, we examine the High Court order, SEIAA minutes, NGT proceedings and the contradictions in the responses of Pramod Sawant and Vishwajit Rane. The final question is simple: while the courts determine the legality of the permissions, whose side will the elected Government of Goa stand on—the villagers fighting to protect their land and water, or a powerful project moving forward while every unanswered question is pushed into the convenient darkness of the words “sub judice”?