Team Herald
CALANGUTE: The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Saligao team, accompanied by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, paid an official visit to the contentious DLF project site in Verem, Saligao, and confronted company officials over the ongoing destruction of the Reis Magos hill.
Expressing strong opposition, the AAP lodged a formal protest against the blatant hill cutting occurring within the Saligao constituency. Viegas raised serious concerns about the State government’s apparent favouritism towards real estate developers, questioning whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had turned into a real estate agency, prioritising the sale of Goa to external interests over the protection of its natural resources.
Viegas warned of the potential for a disaster similar to the Wayanad tragedy if the destruction continues unchecked.
AAP’s Saligao leader Dr Vibhas Prabhudesai expressed concern over the potential risks to the people of Verem due to unchecked hill cutting, allegedly sanctioned by the BJP government. “I appeal to the residents of Verem to come together and stand against the destruction of our beautiful village, which is being systematically ruined under the BJP’s watch,” said Dr Prabhudesai, invoking the spirit of ‘Daad’, the guardian of Verem village.
Chetan Kamat, another AAP leader said, “It’s time for Goans to rise up, defeat this mafia, and demonstrate our collective strength.”
Mario Cordeiro, AAP leader from Saligao, drew a historical parallel, stating, “Vasco da Gama came to conquer Goa 500 years ago, and now it’s the ‘Delhi da Builder’ seeking to invade Goa.”
The AAP leadership has committed to visiting every site in Goa where illegal hill cutting is occurring, vowing to expose the nexus between the BJP and real estate developers.