📍 Panzorconi (Charam Moddi), Cuncolim | April 2026
By Special Correspondent
The long-pending Housing Board project at Charam Moddi in Panzorconi, Cuncolim, has once again come under intense public scrutiny, with villagers questioning both government intent and political accountability.
While protests against the project have intensified in recent years, attention is now turning toward the role and response of Cuncolim MLA and Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao.
A PROJECT WITH A LONG HISTORY OF RESISTANCE
The proposed Housing Board project at Charam Moddi is not new. For years, local residents have opposed it, citing concerns over:
- Environmental impact on the hill terrain
- Pressure on already limited infrastructure
- Fear of demographic imbalance due to large-scale housing
Earlier, the project had reportedly been stalled following public opposition, but it has resurfaced multiple times—each revival triggering fresh protests.
TIMELINE: FROM SILENT OPPOSITION TO ACTIVE PROTEST
🔹 2021–2022: Resistance Re-emerges
- Local opposition begins building again as project discussions revive
- Concerns raised informally within the village community
🔹 2023: Legal Push Revives Project
- Court directions relating to plot allotments bring the project back into active consideration
➡️ Turning point that reignites public concern
🔹 2024: Public Protests Intensify
- Villagers begin protesting at Charam Moddi site
- Social media campaigns call for protection of village land
- Movement becomes visible and organised
🔹 2025: Escalation Phase
- Public meetings, rallies, and complaints increase
- Issue gains political attention within Cuncolim constituency
➡️ Shift from local issue → constituency-wide concern
🔹 January 2026: Assembly Assurance
- Issue raised in Goa Legislative Assembly
👉 Government assurance:
- No final decision will be taken without consulting locals
➡️ Seen as a major political acknowledgment of public opposition
🔹 2026: Contradictions Emerge
- Despite assurance, reports indicate:
- Administrative processes (NOCs, approvals) continue
- Fresh protests erupt
➡️ Raises concerns over gap between assurance and action
KEY ISSUES RAISED BY VILLAGERS
🟠 Infrastructure Concerns
- Roads and access inadequate for large housing project
- Questions over water supply and civic capacity
🟠 Environmental Impact
- Hill cutting and ecological disturbance feared
🟠 Lack of Transparency
- Villagers claim:
- No proper consultation
- Decisions being taken without local consent
🟠 Demographic Concerns
- Fear of large-scale outsider settlement altering village character
FOCUS SHIFTS TO POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Residents are now directly questioning Yuri Alemao on his role in opposing the project:
❓ Key Questions Being Raised
- Objections Filed?
- Were formal objections submitted against the project?
- If yes, can copies be shown to the people?
- No Objection Filed?
- If not, what were the reasons?
- Assembly Intervention
- What specific assurance was obtained from the BJP Government?
- Follow-up Action
- Has the government fulfilled its assurance?
- What steps were taken to ensure compliance?
- Political Understanding?
- Is there any tacit “setting” influencing the project outcome?
GROUND REALITY: GROWING TRUST DEFICIT
Despite assurances, villagers allege:
- Continued movement of the project at administrative level
- Lack of visible follow-up from elected representatives
- Increasing disconnect between public sentiment and policy action
A SYMBOL OF A LARGER ISSUE
The Charam Moddi controversy is no longer just about one project.
It reflects broader concerns in Goa:
- Development vs community consent
- Governance transparency
- Role of elected representatives in protecting local interests
CONCLUSION
As protests continue into 2026, the Charam Moddi Housing Board project remains unresolved, with mounting pressure on both the government and opposition leadership.
For the people of Cuncolim, the issue has become a test of accountability.
👉 Will assurances translate into action—or remain political statements?
Original article
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