Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a key development for Siolim residents, the Supreme Court has issued notices to all relevant parties, including State Government departments, in a petition challenging the construction of luxury villas near the historic Oxel spring. The matter is scheduled for hearing in April.
The Special Leave Petition (SLP) was filed by local resident Suraj Chodankar and environmental activist Avertino Miranda, following the dismissal of their earlier plea by the Bombay High Court at Goa, which had contested the approvals granted for the project.
The dispute centers on the proposed development of eight residential villas, each featuring a private swimming pool, located within 34.5 metres of the 363-year-old Oxel spring — a perennial water source that has traditionally supplied sections of Siolim village.
In their petition, the appellants argued that the project threatens the delicate ecosystem around the spring. They warned that excavation, construction, and increased groundwater use could disturb the natural flow of the spring and cause irreversible damage to local biodiversity.
“The spring is not just a water source but an integral part of the village’s ecological and cultural heritage. Any interference in its vicinity could have lasting consequences,” one petitioner said, welcoming the apex court’s notice.
Villagers have previously staged protests against the project, citing concerns over water security. Environmentalists have also cautioned about the broader impact of luxury real estate projects near traditional water sources across coastal Goa.
The Supreme Court, while issuing notices, has asked the State authorities and other respondents involved in granting construction approvals to submit their responses. Though no interim relief has been granted, the issuance of notices signals that the court considers the matter significant enough to warrant detailed examination.
