Velsao: The three-decade-long fight against the illegal hotel project of M/s Kyle San Holidays Pvt. Ltd., located at Primeiro Vaddo, Velsao, has finally come to a close. The hotel, which violated the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 1991 guidelines, was brought down after a relentless legal battle spearheaded by Goa’s tallest leader and former General Secretary of Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott, the late Matanhy Saldanha.
The fight, which began in the early 1990s, first saw a case filed in the High Court of Bombay, Goa Bench, before being transferred to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Pune. In 2014, the NGT ordered the demolition of the hotel, a ruling that was subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court of India in 2017. Despite these orders, the hotel stood for another seven years, only to finally meet its end after considerable pressure from local residents and environmental activists.
A Battle Started by Late Matanhy Saldanha
The late Matanhy Saldanha, revered for his commitment to environmental protection and local communities, initiated the fight against the project. Camilo Souza, an ex-panch of Velsao who served in 2002, recalled how Saldanha had collected evidence and filed the petition at his own expense. “He never wavered, even in the face of death threats,” Souza said. “Today, we see the fruits of his commitment, even after his passing.”
Saldanha’s efforts not only prevented the construction of the illegal hotel but also served as a lasting reminder of the importance of upholding environmental laws. His legacy is being celebrated by many in the Velsao community who attribute the success of the legal fight to his relentless spirit.
Panchayat Faces Fine but Stands Firm Against Future Projects
Francisco Braganza, the local panch of the ward, disclosed that the village panchayat was fined ₹1 lakh by the court due to the actions of past committee members who supported the illegal project. He, however, reiterated his commitment to protecting the village from future unlawful developments.
Braganza stated that his panchayat had sent multiple letters to the collector, urging the execution of the court’s demolition order. He warned departments like the Town and Country Planning (TCP) and CRZ against approving projects without proper ground inspections. “We will fight tooth and nail against all such mega projects that threaten the village’s environment and the interests of its residents,” he said. He also appealed to local landlords not to sell their land to outsiders, emphasizing the need to protect the village’s sanctity.
A Victory for Environmentalists and Local Communities
Olencio Simoes, remembered the difficult days when his uncle faced death threats but never bowed to pressure from powerful hotel interests. “The villagers of Velsao have found justice after so many decades,” Simoes said, expressing dismay that it took seven years to execute a demolition order passed by the Supreme Court in 2017.
Simoes also criticized the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and TCP for allowing such projects to move forward, cautioning them against approving developments in No Development Zones (NDZ) in CRZ or hilly areas. He emphasized that the CRZ notification was designed to protect the livelihoods of fisherfolk and other coastal communities, yet it was being misused to facilitate illegal mega-projects.
In his closing remarks, Simoes thanked Goa Foundation’s Dr. Norma and Dr. Claude Alvares for their invaluable legal assistance in bringing the case to a successful conclusion. “This victory belongs to the villagers, the environment, and the late Matanhy Saldanha, whose vision and determination have triumphed over adversity,” he said.
With this chapter finally closed, Velsao’s residents and leaders are more vigilant than ever, vowing to protect their land and coastline from further environmental degradation.