Goa
,
Quellosim
,
South Goa
Published :
Sep 2018
|
Updated :
Quellosim Residents Unite to Save Kesarval Spring in South Goa, Oppose Hotel
Reported by
Nihar Gokhale
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
300
People affected
2018
Year started
27
ha.
Land area affected
Households affected
300
People Affected
2018
Year started
27
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Industry
Reason/Cause of conflict
Tourism
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
Sector
Industry
Reason/Cause of conflict
Tourism
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

In May 2018, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), a state government undertaking, floated a tender to seek a private hospitality firm to build, finance and operate a "three-star or higher" hotel on public-private partnership model at Kesarval, a waterfall off National Highway-17 in South Goa. People who live close to the waterfall claim that the spring has medicinal properties. However, its flow has reportedly reduced in the past two decades due to illegal borewell drilling in a nearby industrial estate.
In 2017, the Quellosim panchayat had resolved to rejuvenate the spring with the help of the tourism department. But the GTDC instead floated the tender the following year to build a hotel. The village residents formed a network called Save Kesarval Spring Movement (SKSM) to oppose the hotel. They said it would amount to handover of their community land to a private developer, and they feared losing access to the spring. They also [said](https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Quelossim-villagers-oppose-hotel-project-at-Kesarval-spring-/130559#:~:text=VASCO%3A The Quelossim villagers along,Kesarval spring in the village.) that effluents from the hotel could pollute the stream and the land area around it, including their farms.
The SKSM has held demonstrations, addressed press conferences and reached out to local legislators and the tourism department. In August 2018, in response to a question raised in the Legislative Assembly on the issue, Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar argued that that no water would be used from the spring and that the project will help rejuvenate the spring.
The final date of submission of tender bids is yet to be announced. SKSM has said it will continue the agitation until the tender is scrapped.
In September 2018, the group submitted a memorandum to the GTDC and threatened to go to court if needed. In June 2019, the SKSM also demanded the closure of the bore wells at Verna Industrial Estate, which are reportedly affecting the Kesarval springs.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Opposition against environmental degradation

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

closure of the bore wells at Verna Industrial Estate.

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Common

Forest

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?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Project underway despite protests

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

Type of investment:

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Goa Tourism Development Corporation

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:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Save Kesarval Spring Movement

5
Information on the use of criminal law

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?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Nihar Gokhale
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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Opposition against environmental degradation

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

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?

Status of Project

Project underway despite protests

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

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