Box
Games or Signals….
— Villagers in Ponda protest the government’s move to allot football ground space for a mobile tower
— Kuncoliem Sports Club says the tower location falls in the middle of the playing field, making the ground unusable.
— Locals fear police-backed installation as outrage spreads on social media.
— Decision by IT and Sports departments sparks protests, demands government rethink
‘— Ready to sell even playgrounds,’ say angry villagers as Google Maps image goes viral
— Villagers in Ponda decry the government’s move to allot football ground space for a mobile tower, calling it a blow to sports.
Team Goemkarponn
Ponda:
A decision by the Goa Government to allow the installation of a mobile tower in the middle of a village playground has sparked sharp criticism and protests from locals.
The Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communication (ITE&C) and the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs (S&YA) jointly allocated 10 square metres of land to Pune-based Indus Towers Ltd. The land lies within Survey No. 111/1, which forms part of a football ground in Kuncoliem village, Ponda taluka. According to the government order dated August 14, 2025, the tower’s location may be shifted, but only within a radius of 15 square metres, which still falls within the playing field.
The Kuncoliem Sports Club, which manages the ground after it was handed over by the local panchayat and developed under MPLAD funds, has strongly objected to the move. The club has submitted a Google Maps image showing that the proposed tower site is in the middle of the football field. A statement issued by the club said the revised radius condition also keeps the tower within the active playing area, making the ground unusable.
Following the objections, Sports Director Dr. Ajay Gaude instructed company officials not to begin work until the government reviews the matter. Club representatives, who met him with a written objection and copies sent to concerned ministers, said shocking details emerged during the discussions.
According to them, the Assistant Physical Education Officer (APEO) of Ponda admitted he had attended a joint inspection in December 2024, arranged by the ITE&C department, to finalise the site. However, he never submitted a report to the Sports Directorate. The officer also claimed a club representative was present at the inspection, a claim the club has strongly denied.
Adding to the controversy, former Sports Minister and local MLA Govind Gaude told villagers that he was never informed about the finalisation of the tower’s location despite being in office at the time. He also cautioned that the company could attempt to erect the tower with police support, urging villagers to be prepared.
The release of the Google Maps image by villagers has gone viral on social media, triggering a wave of anger. One widely shared reaction read: “The government is ready to sell any land in Goa for money, even playgrounds.”
With protests gathering momentum, the focus is now on how Sports Minister Ramesh Tavadkar and IT Minister Rohan Khaute will respond to the public outrage and the growing opposition from the village.
