AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
GONCOI, SANCOALE: The wait for legal advice sought by the Sancoale Panchayat on the Bhutani project seems to be like ‘Waiting for Godot’, a renowned play by Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, where the two characters keep waiting for a third, Godot, throughout the play but Godot never arrives.
Sancoale Sarpanch Derrick Vales, says he’s expecting it soon (just like the characters in ‘Waiting for Godot’) and the majority of villagers believing the former is pushing this too far.
“I expect the two advocates – Amey Prabhudesai and Zelar D’Costa - to give their advice by this week or the maximum by the next. Once received, we will call a meeting and act immediately,” assures Vales.
“How can it be possible? They will not take more time. I am sure their advice will be received in the time frame specified,” vouches Vales when confronted with the possibility that he is playing for time.
Premanand Naik has broken his fast and a chain hunger strike by villagers and activists has kept the spirit of protest alive outside the Sancoale Panchayat from 9 am till sundown.
“First, there needs to be a resolution asking for opinion from two judges or the Advocate General. There is none and hence, any advice will have no standing. It is obvious they hope time will silence people,” reasons panch Tulshidas Naik, who has been with the protestors.
“How can an Attorney General give his advice without there being a Panchayat resolution? At the meeting on October 18, video of which was shared, there were five members present, two being from the Opposition. We opposed the idea and with no quorum, there could be no resolution,” argues Tulshidas.
Despite the unexpected rains over the village on Monday, protest seems steaming in houses around and even far away, because Bhutani is the pot where angst against hill cutting is boiling.
“I am with the people,” says Derrick and tries to deflate the balloon of corruption being tied to him by trying to deflect the blame on the protestors.
“The accusations of corruption made by Bhutani in reply to our show cause notice could be implicating protestors Premanand Naik, Tulshidas and others. I have not taken money. The permission was given by the secretary,” claims Derrick as he tries to fit the ring of innocence on himself.
“We fought together in 2008 when a project was supposed to come up at the same place when Premanand was sarpanch and with his help, we won the case. We will continue this fight because, like the last time, this time too it is about our future, which cannot be bought,” storms Roselyn Borges as the lights go off.