Residents of Quellosim village have opposed a floating recreational project known as "Mini India Park" proposed by Pune-based firm Movaj Enterprises near the banks of the River Zuari. The park proposed to consist of floating replicas of India's famous monuments that tourists could access by boats. The project also includes 5-star resort, houseboats, floating cottages and water sports activities over 35,000 square metres out of total 9 lakh square metres of land under the company's ownership.
The company had approached the Cortalim-Quellosim panchayat in 2012 to seek its approval and has been opposed by villagers who said that the project is located in an eco-sensitive tidal wetland. In 2014, villagers stopped the company from building floating platforms by filing a complaint with the panchayat alleging violations of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011. In 2016, the panchayat approved the project. The Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board (known commonly as IPB), a state body headed by the chief minister, also granted in-principle approval to the project in July 2016, which led the firm to restart the construction.
In January 2017, the villagers filed a complaint before the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority or GCZMA alleging illegal dumping of mud in eco-sensitive areas. A case was filed in NGT subsequently.
In May 2017, a site inspection by the GCZMA, under NGT directions, found that dumping of mud was carried out in areas classified as no-development zone under the Coastal Regulatory Zone or CRZ Notification. The inspection also said that sluice gates that regulate the flow of tidal water into the wetland had not been opened, affecting its ecology. The NGT in August 2017 asked for an action plan to open sluice gates of the property in order to restore it to its natural condition. The gates were opened in January 2018. The NGT case is pending.
In a PIL WP 26/2016, the Goa foundation challenged the NOC granted by the Goa Investment and Promotion board to the project and demanded it should be declared null and void. Meanwhile, in December 2017 the Goa Investment and Promotion board withdrew its approval to the project, among 13 such projects located in CRZ areas. In 2018, the petition was disposed of as both the panchayat and the Goa Investment and Promotion board withdrew its approvals.
In November 2019, villagers held protests demanding that the panchayat should write to Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority saying that the illegal land given to the project should be restored. In 2020, the Goa foundation filed another petition (PIL No.12/2020) challenging the NOC granted by Captain of Ports Department, Government of Goa to Mini India project.
The Mini India Park project was relocated to Pernem Taluka. In March 2023, the Goa Investment Promotion Board approved the proposal for the theme park to come up in Pernem taluka. The promoter BramhaCorp Theme Park LLP is affiliated to Movaj Enterpises.
On March 18, 2024, the NGT disposed of the case, noting that the matter was under consideration of the GCZMA. Lopinho Xavier – member of Quelossim Panchayat, chairperson of Quelossim Biodiversity Management Committee, and the NGT petitioner – said that the ongoing GCZMA hearing is related to the demand to restore the khazans to its original status. This includes undoing the damage caused by broadening of bunds and destruction of mangroves, removal of the dumped debris and the pontoons from khazan lands, and reopening the sluice gates.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Opposition against environmental degradation
Complaint against procedural violations
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Private
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project stalled
Original Project Deadline
2023
Whether the Project has been Delayed
No
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Water bodies
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Yes
Source/Reference
<https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Mini-India-park-project-proposed-in-Quelossim-khazan-lands-put-on-hold/179603> <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/locals-want-letter-written-to-gczma-over-mini-india-park/articleshow/72214788.cms>
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
625
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
2011
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
June 2023
Why did the conflict end?
Project/scheme was cancelled or modified
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Violation of environmental laws
Non-consultation with stakeholders
Violation of free prior informed consent
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
High Court of Bombay at Goa, National Green Tribunal
Case Number
PIL WP 26/2016, Original Application No. 130/2017 (NGT), PIL WP 12/2020
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Goa State Coastal Zone Management Authority, Captain of Ports Department
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Movaj Enterprises
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
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