Augusto Rodrigues
GONCOI, SANCOALE: Candlelight meeting that saw thousands attend, a nine-day fast by village elder Premanand Naik – the protests against the Bhutani Infra project that rocked Sancoale last year are gathering pace again, as villagers are now moving door to door, collecting signatures against the controversial housing project that they say threatens the environment and the local community.
The latest protests are gathering steam after Bhutani moved in with machinery to the site recently. While the company claims it is for “soil testing”, volunteers are collecting signatures of villagers who describe the project as “illegal work and unauthorised occupation”.
"If Bhutani Infra thinks that buying people in power will crush us, they are mistaken,” said Premanand Naik, the 65-year-old village elder who led the hunger strike. "They tried to discredit our movement, but the villagers have shown that our unity cannot be broken. I’m ready to strike again if necessary.”
A large section of residents of Cortalim constituency have expressed frustration with the stance of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who they feel has not taken sufficient action. The protests gained further momentum after allegations surfaced that Parmesh Construction Ltd, the company spearheading the project, had begun unauthorized construction, including bore well work, without securing the necessary permits.
Local resident Ralph D’Souza, who lives near the proposed project site in Savorfond, raised concerns after hearing machinery in operation for several days. “For the past three days, I’ve heard the sound of a machine digging a bore well. The noise was intermittent but lasted for hours. We fear they’ve started the work secretly,” he said.
Bhutani Infra had previously promised that no construction would begin until the matter was resolved by the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court. However, the arrival of construction equipment, workers, and security personnel—allegedly with the help of local police—has heightened suspicions among villagers that the project is moving forward despite legal uncertainties.
“They are operating with a live construction licence but haven’t secured the necessary permissions from relevant authorities,” said Socorin Joseph, a long-time protester. “Since our Sarpanch, MLA, and Chief Minister have chosen to remain silent, we have no choice but to stay vigilant. We’ll continue the fight, no matter what.”
Peter D’Souza, a petitioner challenging the project in court, explained that during the last hearing, he was instructed to file an affidavit outlining the failure of local authorities, including the Panchayat and the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department, to respond to the concerns raised by residents. “The court has instructed the authorities to explain why they have not replied after four months,” D’Souza said. “I will submit my affidavit at the next hearing on Monday, February 3, 2025, and we expect the court to take appropriate action after that.”
Residents, including Shamal Naik, have expressed frustration with the local leadership. “When we heard that equipment had been brought in, my wife and I went to the panchayat office to inform the Sarpanch and the secretary, but as usual, they did not react,” said Naik.
The controversy is further fuelled by the fact that Bhutani Infra has yet to secure essential environmental clearances, including approval from the Ministry of Environment, the Electricity Department, and even a Sanad, a critical document for land transactions. Despite claims of support from Sarpanch Derrick Valles, many locals feel he is not acting in their best interest. “The Sarpanch says he is with the people, but his actions suggest otherwise,” said Remedios, a resident.
Attempts to reach Sancoale Sarpanch Derrick Valles for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to phone calls.
The protests have seen an outpouring of support from women in the community, who are becoming increasingly vocal in their opposition to the project. “Just because the elected officials bend to money doesn’t mean we will allow our voices to be silenced,” said Ismen Dias, one of the protest leaders. “The future of our children is our priority, and we won’t back down.”