PANJIM: When Herald first broke this story in the Goan media on how the red category brewery and alcohol plant of Vani Agro Farms, on orchard and agricultural land was cleared by the Investment Promotion Board, bending over backwards, on December 30, 2015, the report stated, “The project is blessed and backed by the BJP MLA of Sanguem, Subhash Phaldesai”. We now have clear evidence of their absolute direct involvement in the project virtually as stake holders.
MLA’s nephew Kunal Phaldesai signs receipt of health NOC as “FOR VANI AGRO FARMS PVT LTD”
The Sanguem MLA not just backed the project. It is virtually his project which has received clearances from authorities at unheard of speed. Vani Agro Farms applied for a provisional NOC from the Health and Sanitation point of view on 29.7.2013. The Health officer of the Primary Health Centre Sanguem, Dr Vinod Naik, issued the certificate on 31.7.2013 i.e in 48 hours. The letter issuing the certificate has a glaring truth. It was received on behalf of Vani Agro Farms Pvt Ltd by none other than Kunal Phaldesai, the nephew of Subhash Phaldesai. Kunal Phaldesai under his signature, clearly visible in the document accessed by Herald, writes, “For Vani Agro Farms Pvt Ltd”.
Kunal Phaldesai is the son of Ulhas Phaldesai, who is the brother of MLA Subhash Phaldesai. We ask, on what basis did he sign, “For Vani Agro Farms Pvt Ltd”. The MLA needs to answer and so does the company if Kunal Phaldesai is an associate of the company. If that is the case, then why wasn’t this made public by the MLA, who, it is evident, has deep vested interest in the project.
MLA Subhash Phaldesai’s family, were witnesses to the sale deed of the land of the village Vani Agro Farms bought
But there’s more. Ulhas Phaldesai and his son Kunal were the two witnesses on the sale deed when Vani Agro bought the land for the brewery and alcohol plant, establishing the MLA’s family was witness to the sale of land for a red category project coming up in the basis of converting land not meant for industrial use, in either of the Regional Plans (2001 and 2021) but based on the draconian Investment Promotion Act, which will soon be legally challenged. Herald has a copy of the sale deed.
The other crucial local body, the Sanguem Municipal Council, too wasted no time on clearing the project, Vani Agro Farms applied for an NOC from the Sanguem Municipal Council on 18.7.2013. A provisional NOC was issued by Chief Officer, Pramod V Desai, on 26.7.2013 i.e. within one week. The Chief Officer did this without even referring the matter to the Sanguem Municipal Council. This is clear in reply to an RTI query furnished by SMC. Asked to provide a copy of the NOC and the resolution copy of the council given to the project, the answer is “NIL”. It is no secret the Sanguem Municipal Council is totally under the control of Subhash Phaldesai.
MLA Phaldesai owes some serious explanation to the people of Sanguem and Goa. When Herald first exposed this in December 2015, he had said, “This project is being opposed by a few locals led by people who have vested political interests. A majority of them are in favour because this will create jobs. Moreover the land does not belong to them”.
Now Phaldesai’s vested interest and involvement – which could even be monetary and commercial – in getting a project where rules and laws have been clearly flouted (red category industry and granting of NOC’s without referring to the council) is clear.
