Team Herald
PANJIM: Activists and residents of Sancoale on Sunday booed Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for attending the function promoted by Bhutani Group, accused of committing illegalities and indiscriminate hill cuttings in the village, during a protest outside the venue of an event co-sponsored by the group at Cujira complex, only to be stopped by the police from entering the venue.
Alleging that Sawant has proved that his government is a broker, activists and residents vowed to intensify their agitation by taking to the streets to drive out Bhutani from Sancoale.
Sawant was the chief guest and former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu was the special guest at the event organised by a media house, on the occasion of Engineers Day.
Activist Swapnesh Sherlekar, who had given a call to the people to march to the event venue, alleged that the State government was acting like actual brokers.
Sherlekar said, “We were expecting that CM Sawant would skip the event. It was an irony that engineers were protesting on the streets on Engineers Day. It was a disgrace. People booed the CM for attending the function promoted by real estate developer who is accused of committing illegalities and accused of indiscriminate hill cutting at Sancoale.”
“We had sent a message to the Chief Minister to meet a delegation, but there was no response. Sawant has proved that his government is a broker. The organisers should not have roped in real estate against whom the people are protesting. Now we will come on the streets and drive out Bhutani from Sancoale,” thundered Sherlekar.
Sherlekar further demanded to know how the government logo was used for a private function and if it was a government function then why people were not allowed to attend. The police cannot stop people from attending the government function, he said.
Activist Rama Kankonkar alleged that the government logo was misused and what was missing was the BJP symbol.
He alleged that Bhutanis had illegally occupied properties of locals, and were using bouncers to deny entry to locals to go to their properties.
He demanded that the government should hear the grievances of Sancoale villagers, and save the village from destruction.
Former Environment and Forest minister Alina Saldanha said, “The proposed Bhutani project was earlier a private forest area, and it was withdrawn by the government. Private forest is a protected area. I fail to understand why the government withdrew it. I fear that there will be destruction of private forest as trees will have to be cut for the mega project. The government had approved the project without considering the pressure on the existing infrastructure like water in Sancoale.”
After the former Union minister Suresh Prabhu said, “I wasn’t aware about the controversy. I was invited by the media house. I am of the firm opinion that Goa’s beauty is paramount. In 1998, when I was the union minister for MoEF, I had made a rule that any proposed project must meet people’s permission. Public hearing is absolutely essential. I am sure the government would have done it. People’s wishes have to be taken on board.”
However, the Chief Minister declined to react to media questions.