The four-laning of existing two-lane National Highway No. 4A (NH4A) from Anmod to Panaji in Goa has been a cause for concern for local communities since 2020. The communities’ primary apprehension against the [Rs. 2130 crore](http://www.dstegoa.gov.in/EIA report-NH4A mollem.pdf) highway expansion project is that out of the 136.7 ha of land within Goa to be acquired for the project, [33.17 ha. land falls within Reserve and Private Forests Area](http://www.dstegoa.gov.in/EIA report-NH4A mollem.pdf). Another 31.015 ha. land falls within the Bhagawan Mahaveer Wild Life Sanctuary Area and Mollem National Park, both of which are Protected Areas situated in the eco-sensitive and bio-diverse Western Ghats region of South Goa.
The project was granted administrative approval in 2015 with a sanctioned amount of over Rs. 30 Crores. However, as per the latest approved land acquisition proposals of 2022, additional funding was sanctioned to the public works department (PWD) Goa by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for the highway expansion project.
The project’s [EIA Report](http://www.dstegoa.gov.in/EIA report-NH4A mollem.pdf) lists reduction in travel time, traffic jams, noise levels and air pollutants, as well as “improvements of the economic growth in the surrounding places” as benefits of the highway expansion project. The application for forest clearance by the PWD too mentioned the project was required for better traffic flow.
However, the project has been opposed by the locals along with opposition against two other infrastructure projects, double tracking of Castlerock-Kulem railway line of the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL) and Sterlite Power’s 400 kV Goa-Tamnar Transmission Line. Both projects are designed to pass from within the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park.
The Amche Mollem Campaign has spearheaded the opposition against the NH4A highway expansion. “We believe that a construction project on this scale, which requires major earth works and the construction of a 3km long viaduct, will have long term and irreversible impacts on the biodiversity of Bhagwan Mahavir WLS and Mollem National Park. In addition to this, the environmental impact assessment used as a basis for its approval is riddled with errors and omissions that masks the true impacts of the project” said Farai Divan Patel, researcher with the Amche Mollem Campaign while speaking with LCW.
The project’s EIA Report mentions ‘approximately’ 10,000 trees will be felled, however, others estimate this number to be upwards of 22,000. “These impacts are particularly severe because of the immense biodiversity in the area as well as the fact that there are multiple projects proposed in Mollem NP which will further fragment an already fragmented forest” said Patel.
Speaking to LCW on the condition of anonymity, a representative of the PWD, Government of Goa, mentioned that the PWD will adhere to directions of the judiciary if any order for realignment of the project is passed. The matter is currently sub-judice before the Bombay High Court.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Complaint against procedural violations
Demand to cancel the project
Opposition against environmental degradation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
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?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
2130
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
2016
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Violation of environmental laws
Non-consultation with stakeholders
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Bombay High Court
Case Number
PILWP/424/2021 (F)
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Public Works Department, Govt. of Goa; Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Yes
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:
Amche Mollem Campaign
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?
Maitreya is an independent environmental law practitioner having secured a B.A.LL.B. (Hons) from Hidayatullah National Law University.
Initiating his legal practice at the chambers of ex-President of the NGT Western Zone Bar Association Adv. Asim Sarode, Maitreya has gone on to work with the 2021 Right Livelihood awardee 'Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment' (LIFE) before commencing independent environmental law practice before various benches of the National Green Tribunal in 2022.
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