Chief Minister Pramod Sawant instructed the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister, Vishwajit Rane, to cancel the Bhutani project in Sancoale if the various permissions granted to it were found to be improper. Sawant indicated that he would recommend to the TCP that all files related to permissions for large-scale projects should be routed to the Chief Minister’s office, as such projects involve multiple departments.

Responding to public calls to scrap the Bhutani project, the Chief Minister remarked that in recent days, the state had seen several protests regarding the upcoming development, with the matter even being raised during the monsoon session of the assembly. He clarified that typically, no files concerning proposed large or small projects are directed to the Chief Minister, his office, or any department under his control.

Referring to documents circulating on social media, Sawant noted that the issue surrounding this project seemed to have been ongoing since 2007. He instructed the TCP Minister that if permissions, such as land conversion and environmental clearances, were not properly granted, they should be revoked and the project halted. He stressed that projects causing public discontent were not desirable.

As chairman of the TCP's steering committee, Sawant said he would convene a meeting, which had not been held for some time, to propose that approvals for large projects be forwarded to the Chief Minister, as these involve coordination across various departments. He highlighted that such developments often require services like water and sewage treatment, meaning multiple departments must be consulted.

Shortly after the TCP Minister's direction, the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA) issued a show-cause notice to the developer of the Bhutani project, questioning why action should not be taken for violating the terms of permission. MPDA member secretary, Sanjay Halornekar, informed the developer that they must respond within seven days, explaining why their development permissions should not be revoked.

Rane, the TCP Minister, clarified that the permissions had been granted before his tenure but, in light of the concerns raised by the people of Sancoale and Goa, he had instructed the MPDA to issue the notice based on received representations.

The notice pointed out discrepancies, such as the width of access to the property being 7 metres instead of the required 10 metres, violating the Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulations, 2010. Furthermore, it highlighted that the development would require the cutting of hilly land with a gradient greater than 1:10, for which prior approval from the Chief Town Planner had not been obtained, thereby breaching the conditions of the development permission.