Canacona, April 26, 2026:
In a strong assertion of local self-governance, the Gram Sabha of Loliem–Polem Village Panchayat on Sunday unanimously rejected a proposed 49-villa mega project and passed a separate resolution opposing the installation of smart electricity meters without public consent.

The meeting, held under the chairmanship of Sarpanch Nisha Suraj Chari, witnessed detailed deliberations on a proposal submitted by a real estate company to construct 49 luxury villas, each equipped with individual swimming pools.

Local representatives Denis Fernandes and Prashant Pagi presented site maps and supporting documents, outlining the scale and potential impact of the project on the village ecosystem.

Speakers at the Gram Sabha emphasized that despite the project having received technical clearance from the Town and Country Planning Department, the Panchayat and Gram Sabha retain the authority to reject developments that are not in the interest of the village. It was pointed out that such large-scale construction contradicts earlier resolutions adopted by the Gram Sabha aimed at safeguarding Loliem–Polem from mega projects.

Prashant Pagi cautioned that villagers would strongly resist the project, recalling past agitations against projects such as the NIT (2011), IIT (2016), and the proposed Film City on the plateaus. Responding to public sentiment, the Sarpanch and all Panchayat members present assured full support to the villagers’ stand.

The resolution to oppose the 49-villa project was unanimously adopted, with Denis Fernandes proposing and Prashant Pagi seconding the motion.

In another significant development, the Gram Sabha also took up the issue of smart electricity meters being installed by the Electricity Department of Goa. Members raised concerns over the replacement of functioning meters without consumer consent.

Addressing the gathering, Prashant Pagi highlighted issues such as lack of transparency in billing, possible inaccuracies, and the threat to jobs of local meter readers. Environmental concerns regarding disposal of old meters were also flagged.

The Gram Sabha was informed that in Uttar Pradesh, the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has temporarily halted the installation of smart prepaid meters following public protests and complaints of inflated billing, with a technical review committee constituted to examine the matter.

Taking serious note of these developments, the Gram Sabha unanimously passed a resolution opposing the immediate replacement of existing electricity meters and urged authorities to halt the process until public concerns are adequately addressed.

The proceedings reflected a united stand by villagers to safeguard their environment, livelihoods, and quality of life from decisions perceived as detrimental to the community.

The meeting was attended by Panch members Chandrakant Sudir, Ratna Nilesh Prabhu Dessai, Sachin Naik, Pratiza Sachin Bandekar, Rajesh Naik, and Supriya Surendra Pagi. Deputy Sarpanch Ashutosh Bandekar was absent. Panchayat Secretary Sandeep S. Desai was present during the proceedings.