Villagers and supporters opposing the controversial Karapur mega project staged a protest in Panaji on Friday under the banner of the “Save Karapur†movement, catching authorities off guard after changing their protest venue at the last moment.
The protesters had earlier announced that the demonstration would be held outside the Directorate of Panchayats. Anticipating a large gathering, police deployed substantial security personnel at the Directorate premises. However, in a sudden move, the protesters bypassed the security arrangements and marched directly to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) office instead.
The unexpected shift reportedly left authorities scrambling, as police personnel stationed at the Directorate of Panchayats were caught unprepared while demonstrators assembled outside the TCP office raising slogans against the project.
Villagers from Karapur-Sarvan alleged large-scale environmental destruction due to the ongoing mega project and demanded immediate intervention from authorities. Protesters claimed that the project was causing serious ecological damage and accused authorities of failing to act despite repeated complaints.
As the crowd attempted to approach the TCP office premises, police stopped the protesters at the entrance gate. A delegation later submitted its grievances to officials and demanded urgent action against the alleged violations linked to the project.
Responding to the concerns, the Director of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) assured the protesters that the matter would be examined and sought one week’s time to investigate the allegations before taking further action.
