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The Supreme Court of India has issued notices to the Goa government and a private developer in a dispute over a proposed luxury villa project near the 363-year-old Oxel spring in Siolim, North Goa. The project involves eight villas with private swimming pools. Local residents challenged the development, arguing it threatens a key water source. The apex court has admitted a special leave petition against a Bombay High Court order that had dismissed the plea, and responses have been sought before the next hearing scheduled in April.
The Supreme Court of India has issued notices to the State of Goa and the private developer involved in a proposed luxury housing project at Oxel in Siolim village, North Goa. The matter reached the apex court after the Bombay High Court dismissed a public interest litigation that had challenged the construction of eight luxury villas, each planned with a private swimming pool. Advertisement
The petition before the Supreme Court was filed by local resident Suraj Chodankar and green activist Avertino Miranda. They argued that the project site is located approximately 34.5 metres from the historic Oxel spring, a 363-year-old perennial water source that continues to supply water to the village. According to the petitioners, the spring remains critical for local drinking water needs, particularly as the area faces an existing shortfall between water demand and supply.
The Bombay High Court had earlier relied on a hydrogeological report submitted by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), which stated that the proposed construction was unlikely to adversely impact the spring. Based on this report, the High Court dismissed the plea challenging the project.
However, the petitioners contended before the Supreme Court that the High Court placed excessive reliance on the CGWB report and did not adequately consider ground realities and long-term sustainability concerns. They maintained that allowing high-end residential construction with swimming pools so close to a vital water source is unsuitable for the local environment and could pose risks to the fragile hydrological system of the area.
After hearing initial submissions, the Supreme Court admitted the special leave petition and issued notices to the Goa government and the developer, seeking their responses. The matter is expected to be heard further in April.
The dispute reflects a continuing pattern seen in parts of Goa, where increasing real estate activity has often led to objections from residents and environmental groups. In recent years, several projects in coastal and village areas have faced scrutiny over their impact on water resources, ecology, and local infrastructure. The present case now places the Siolim project under judicial review at the highest level, with the court set to examine whether environmental safeguards and planning norms were properly considered.
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