Panaji, June 20: The Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (GSEIAA) has deferred consideration of several complaints relating to development and construction activities in Survey Nos. 148/0 and 176/1 of Carapur village, Bicholim, citing that the issues are already under adjudication before the Bombay High Court at Goa. According to the Authority’s decision, multiple representations and complaints had been received regarding the large-scale development activities being undertaken in the area. However, GSEIAA observed that the concerns raised substantially overlap with issues presently being examined by the High Court in PIL W.P. (F) No. 688/2025 filed by Pravinsingh Arjun Shedgaonkar and others. Invoking the legal principle of sub judice, the Authority decided that further consideration of those complaints which are directly connected to matters pending before the High Court would remain deferred to maintain judicial consistency and discipline. At the same time, the Authority separately examined representations submitted by local residents Shashikant Keshav Gaonkar, Sanjeevani Sarvesh Gaonkar, Gopi Bholo Talkar and Abhijit Prabhudesai. These complaints specifically raised questions regarding the applicability of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 to the ongoing development activities in Survey Nos. 148/0 and 176/1. During deliberations, GSEIAA noted that the project proponent is currently undertaking four construction projects within Survey No. 148/0: Astra (Plot No. A-134) Celeste (Plot No. B-135) Nova (Plot No. B-262) Orion (Plot No. B-442) The Authority has now sought clarifications from the project proponent regarding the total built-up area of the projects, the proximity between the various developments and other issues highlighted by the complainants. The clarification has been sought to determine whether the cumulative nature and scale of the projects attract the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006, which mandates environmental scrutiny and clearances for certain categories of development projects. The development is being viewed as a significant step in the ongoing Carapur controversy, as environmental concerns raised by local residents have now formally come under the scrutiny of the state’s environmental regulatory authority. While the High Court will continue to examine broader issues related to the project, the GSEIAA’s decision to seek additional information on EIA applicability could potentially have important implications for the future course of the development.