Goa Bhutani Project Controversy: GBA Urges RERA to Halt Acqua Eden Over Environmental Violations

Goa: The Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) has raised serious concerns over the controversial Bhutani project at Sancoale, known as Acqua Eden, pointing to significant irregularities that could threaten both environmental sustainability and public welfare. In a formal letter to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) of Goa, GBA has urged for the project's immediate deregistration under Section 7 of the RERA Act, emphasizing non-compliance with rules and a lack of transparency.

The project, positioned at Survey No. 257/1 in Sancoale, has attracted over 220 investors, despite ongoing legal challenges, including multiple Public Interest Litigations (PILs). GBA highlights that the developer, Parmesh Construction Company Ltd, disclosed in October that they were still gathering data for the essential environmental clearance, a critical step that should have been completed prior to other permissions.

Environmental and Community Concerns

The GBA stresses that the project’s scale, which includes 685 pools in a water-scarce region, could severely impact the local environment. The site, characterized by steep, undevelopable hill slopes and dense forest cover, lacks adequate road access and infrastructure to support such extensive development. Additionally, the project’s non-disclosure of pending PILs raises questions about the transparency of the Goa Bhutani Project, intensifying the controversy.

The GBA, led by convener Sabina Martins and secretary Reboni Saha, has called for urgent RERA intervention to safeguard the environment and protect investors. The letter stresses that immediate steps are crucial to prevent further ecological harm and ensure regulatory compliance for the Goa Bhutani Project at Sancoale.