Goa High Court Dismisses PIL Against Bhutani Real-Estate Project in Sancoale

PANAJI: The Bombay High Court in Goa has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by residents opposing a major real-estate project by Bhutani Infra in Sancoale, dealing a blow to local opposition.

The petitioners, led by social activist Peter D’Souza along with four others from Vasco and Sancoale, had sought to annul approvals granted for the project, including its technical clearance, construction license, and conversion sanad. They also requested the court to prevent Parmesh Constructions Company Ltd (Bhutani Infra) from commencing construction work.

The petition raised environmental and community concerns, arguing that the development would damage green cover, threaten local biodiversity, and strain natural resources, particularly affecting the groundwater table. The petitioners warned that the project could pose a direct threat to the well-being of villagers.

They also claimed that the approvals allowed construction of multi-family villas and swimming pools without providing the mandatory road access required under the Goa Building Regulations 2010. Furthermore, the technical clearance issued on February 2, 2024, was challenged as unlawful, and the site’s classification as Commercial (C-1) Zone was disputed.

The PIL also questioned the legality of the conversion sanad granted by the Additional Collector I of South Goa, which amended a 2007 conversion order. According to the petitioners, the earlier order had lapsed and could not be lawfully revived or altered from residential to commercial use.

Despite these objections, the High Court rejected the PIL, allowing the project approvals to remain intact, marking a setback for the residents’ efforts to halt the development.